OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24095, 3 November 1943, Page 4

OBITUARY

DR. T. LESLIE CROOKE Dr. Thomas Leslie Crooke, a former Medical Superintendent of the Christchurch Public Hospital, died on Monday, aged 82. Dr. Crooke was born in Sheffield, England* and was the son of the Rev. Milward Crooke; M.A., an Army Chaplain who served in the Crimea. Dr. Crooke was educated at Marlborough College, England. He obtained his first degree, that of. L.R.C.P. and S.E. at the Edinburgh University; his M.D. degree he obtained at .Durham University. While in Edinburgh he was a house surgeon in the Royal Infirmary, and later he was medical officer in one of the P. and O. liners. He practised in Reston, Berwickshire, Scotland, and then he was medical officer in one of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s ships. When the office of Medical Superintendent of the Christchurch Hospital became vacant, Dr. Crooke was the successful applicant in 1899 for the position, which he resigned in 1910.' After two years in Rotorua he returned to Christchurch, and entered upon private practice until he retired some years ago. Dr. Crooke earned a high reputation in Christchurch as a musician. At the early age of five his natural bent for music was shown, and in later years he became a talented interpreter of piano and organ music. He had a wonderful memory, and played from memory. His contributions to concert programmes were always greatly appreciated by his audiences. He was a life member of the Christchurch Liedertafel, and was that society’s honorary accompanist Dr. Crooke's three brothers were killed on active service. He is survived by a sister, Miss Olive Crooke, of Christchurch. His wife died in 1938. Members of the Christchurch Liedertafel. at the weekly practice, stood in silence as a mark of respect to Dr. Crooke. Proposing that a letter of sympathy be sent to his relatives, the president (Mr A. L. Cropp) mentioned the great service he had given to the society, being president, vice-presi-dent, trustee, solo pianist, and honorary accompanist at various times. Dr. Crooke joined the liedertafel in 1902 and was elected a life member in 1920. THE REV. H. H. DRIVER The death has occurred at the age of 85 of the Rev. H. H. Driver, an elder of the Baptist Tabernacle, Auckland. He arrived in New Zealand from England at the age of five in the shir Greenjacket. He later attended Spurgeon’s College, London, where he was ordained. On his return to the Dominion he became Baptist minister at Wellington. Mr Driver was president of the Baptist Union in 1900 and secretary of the Foreign Missionary Society for a number of years. He also edited the “New Zealand Baptist” for seven years. When his health broke down he established a bookselling, business in Dunedin On his retirement to Auckland 10 years ago he devoted himself to visiting the sick and to literary work, his articles appearing in religious journals.