Fond farewell to 'kind and sensitive' Cookham GP who died aged 84

Family, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to a GP who lived a long and full life practising medicine in the village of Cookham.

Dr David Mercer was a partner in the Cookham Medical Centre from 1969 to 2001, taking over from his father Dr Vaudrey Mercer.

He was ‘a good old-fashioned general practitioner’ from the time when GPs would perform minor surgeries and conduct many home visits – and was greatly respected by colleagues and patients alike.

David loved Cookham, and in his own words – written in unfinished memoirs left on his computer – had a ‘very happy childhood’, attending nursery school there.

As a young adult, he worked at Charing Cross Hospital and met his wife Julia at medical school.

They were married for 60 years until his death last month.

Dr Julia Mercer described David as a ‘loving and supportive husband,’ as well as a ‘kind and sensitive doctor’ who loved his work with great enthusiasm, was immensely proud of his two sons, and whose four grandchildren ‘gave him enormous joy’.

Medicine had always been part of his life; in the days when there was no appointment system, patients would arrive at his family home and be greeted by David’s mother Rita.

David joined his father’s practice in 1969 and was key to setting up Cookham Medical Centre, arranging to have it built in the Pinder Hall car park.

What exists today is ‘largely the product of his vision’, according to one of his colleagues, Dr John Southgate.

“In a quiet way, he was a leader,” said Dr Southgate in his eulogy at David’s memorial service earlier this month.

David was also ‘instrumental’ in setting up the Elizabeth House day centre in 1981.

“David said, ‘What we really need is somewhere for our elderly population to meet and have lunch’. And that’s what it did,” Julia said.

Relationships were important to David and he loved to keep in contact with the many medical students and doctors he met over the years. He and Julia enjoyed entertaining together.

As a doctor, David is remembered as ‘well-informed and innovative doctor’, someone who embraced alternative medical care, personally practising acupuncture.

A gadget lover, he showed no fear of the increasingly digital world, adopting computers in his practice well before others were ready to.

David had an interest in dermatology and was ‘very keen’ on performing minor surgeries. He held a clinical assistant post at St Mark’s Hospital in Maidenhead for many years.

Having worked in obstetrics, he helped with many home deliveries, which were common back then, bringing his trusty ‘midwifery bag’.

In his younger days, he was ‘quite energetic and very good at getting things done,’ remembers Julia.

David passed away unexpectedly from a sudden cardiac event on April 7 this year. He was 84 years old.

Julia praised emergency services, who she says were ‘amazing’, arriving very quickly to try and help.

A thanksgiving service for David took place on May 3, in which several people, including close family and former colleagues, spoke warmly of him.

In addition, Julia wishes to thank the many people who have sent letters to her after David’s passing. She received more than 200, full of ‘lovely stories’ about him.

Anyone wishing to make donations in David’s honour may do so to Elizabeth House or Thames Hospice.