News

Peter Steele

We are saddened to report that Peter Steele passed away at the end of January. Peter was a consultant pathologist at the Countess of Chester Hospital for many years before retiring about 10 years ago. He was a much liked and reliable colleague who embraced clinical audit and was one of the early implementers of the National Cervical Cytology Screening Program. Peter was a regular attender and contributor at the Countess Medical Division meetings as well as being an active supporter of the Chester & North Wales Medical Society. He will be missed.

Mr James (Jim) Kane – February 2023

We are saddened to report that a former president of the society, Jim Kane, passed away recently.

Jim Kane spent 30 years at the Chester Royal Infirmary and then the Countess of Chester Hospital as a general surgeon before retiring in 1998.  He was the Medical Director for seven years prior to his retirement, and also served as regional advisor to the Royal College of Surgeons for 12 years.

Jim mentored many surgical trainees and helped support and finance multiple projects as a trustee of the Ursula Keyes Foundation.

Jim was president of the Chester and North Wales Medical Society 1988-89. 

Dr Geoffrey Snow – November 2022

We have been informed of the death, at the age of 94, of Dr Geoffrey Snow, President of the Chester and North Wales Medical Society in its centenary year: 1982 – 83.

Dr Snow, a graduate of Birmingham University, was the first substantive Consultant Anaesthetist in Chester, working at Chester Royal Infirmary, City Hospital, Barrowmore Hospital, and Clatterbridge, before transferring to the Countess of Chester Hospital, where he remained until his retirement in 1990.

Mr David Campbell – October 2022

The society has just heard the sad news about our previous President (2002-3), Mr David Campbell, who has passed away on Monday 4th October after suffering a stroke a few days earlier.  Mr Campbell was a retired orthopaedic surgeon at the Countess of Chester Hospital for many years. Our condolences go out to all his family.

Dr Jacqueline Elder, Secretary


Professor John Somauroo

It is with great sadness we report the death of Professor John Somauroo on 14th May 2020.

John Somauroo was a keen sportsman from his school days at King’s College Taunton. After medical school in Nottingham he undertook junior doctor posts in Plymouth and Leicester. His cardiology training was on the Mersey rotation, and while training he published on cardiac screening in young professional footballers. It was from here that his interest and love for sports cardiology grew.

He was appointed as consultant cardiologist at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2000 and was a much liked and respected colleague. His sports cardiology work saw him appointed as professor of sports and exercise cardiology at the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences (RISES) at Liverpool John Moores University in 2016. His sports cardiology clinic at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital attracted athletes from far and wide, and he combined this with work in the cardiomyopathy clinic.

John was a member of the English Football Association’s cardiac screening panel and cardiologist for several professional football clubs, including the one closest to his heart, Liverpool FC. He was a national and international expert in sports cardiology and led on numerous mass athletic screening programmes in football, rugby, and cycling. He was an active supporter of local and national charities.

He had enormous energy and enthusiasm and inspired everyone around him through decades of excellent clinical care. John died peacefully after a diagnosis of cancer, surrounded by his family. He leaves his wife, Francesca; and their four children.

Consultant cardiologist and professor in sports and exercise cardiology (b 1965; q Nottingham 1989; FRCP, FFSEM), died from cancer on 14 May 2020

Following a generous response to John’s memorial fund a memorial bench will be sited in the Life Garden at the Countess of Chester Hospital close to the main entrance. The remainder of the donations are to go towards a research fund in John’s name at Liverpool John Moores University.