John Cooke

Air Vice-Marshal John Nigel Carlyle Cooke, (16 January 1922 – 25 April 2011) was a British doctor and senior Royal Air force officer. He served as Dean of Air Force Medicine from 1979 to 1983, and Senior Consultant RAF from 1983 to 1985. He was also a medical advisor to the European Space Agency, the Royal Air Force of Oman and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Early life Cooke was born on 16 January 1922 in Pembroke, Wales. The son of Cyril Cooke, he spent his early childhood in the North West Frontier Province, India. He was educated at Felsted School, a private school in Felsted, Essex. He studied medicine at St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London. In addition to his studies, he drove ambulances during The Blitz and worked under Alexander Fleming researching penicillin. His first posting was to the Mass Miniature Radiology Unit at the Central Medical Establishment.

In June 1947, he was granted a permanent commission dated to 1 July 1946 with the rank of flying officer. In September 1947, he was promoted once more to flight lieutenant. This was back-dated to 1 November 1946, the date when he was first promoted to that rank, and he was given seniority from 1 May 1946. He went on to serve successively in all the UK based RAF hospitals. On 1 May 1951, he was promoted to squadron leader.

In 1952, he was appointed officer in charge of the medical division at RAF Hospital Cosford. Having been granted study leave, he joined St George's Hospital, London, as a senior registrar under Sir Ken Robson. He was then posted to RAF Hospital Wroughton, where he developed an interest in metabolic medicine.

In addition to his RAF postings, he was a member of the medical advisory board of the European Space Agency from 1978 to 1984.

From 1979 to 1983, he served as Dean of Air Force Medicine.

Later life Cooke served as a consultant adviser in medicine to the Royal Air Force of Oman from 1985 to 1991.

Honours and decorations In the 1956 Birthday Honours, Cooke was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. On 29 May 1979, he was appointed Honorary Physician to the Queen (QHP), and relinquished the appointment on 15 June 1985. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of St. John in April 1983. In the 1984 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath.