View report page

5
DR. C.O.S. BLYTH BROOKE, O.ST.J., M.D., D.P.H.
Barrister at Law
From November 1939 until 1st April, 1965, Dr. Blyth Brooke was Medical Officer of Health of the
Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, a Fellow of the Society of
Medical Officers of Health, and Chairman of the City Division of the British Medical Association, he was
from 1948 a pioneer in the field of old people's services, and was responsible for establishing in 1951 "Brooke
House", London's first work centre for the elderly.
Dr. Blyth Brooke addressed numerous conferences, both in this country and abroad, on public health
matters (particularly geriatrics), published several treatises in professional papers on medical subjects and
was an examiner in public health examinations.
He was for many years a Barrister of the Middle Temple and an acknowledged authority on medical
ethics.
From the time he joined Finsbury in 1935 as Tuberculosis Officer and Assistant Medical Officer of
Health, Dr. Blyth Brooke took a very real and personal interest in every aspect of the development of public
health services in that Borough. Possessed of great ability coupled with energy and enthusiasm, he applied
his talents unreservedly to the duties of his office, and his diligence gave an inspiring lead to all who worked
with him. He was responsible for instigating many of the schemes and improvements achieved by the former
Finsbury Borough Council which have continued to the benefit of Islington's present health services.
Dr. A.K. Arnold, Deputy Director of Public Health, who was Dr. Blyth Brooke's deputy in Finsbury,
writes as follows:-
"With Dr. Brooke's death, public health has lost an eminent and popular personality. The
friendly, almost family atmosphere of Metropolitan Finsbury at both officer and councillor levels
owed a great deal to his personal influence.
Dr. Brooke left this Council's service in 1965 on reaching the age of 65, but he had too
active and enquiring a mind ever to retire completely. The five years following his official
retirement were spent in Gambia where his expert knowledge of tuberculosis was of great assistance
to the health authorities in checking the spread of this disease. Reasons of health compelled
him to return to this country in 1970 but he continued to take an interest in public health
matters until the very end of his life.
His passing is a loss to all those who had the privilege of knowing him and working with
him."