Professor Edgar A. Pask, O.B.E., M.D., M.A., M.B., B.Chir., D.A., F.F.A.R.C.S., died suddenly on 3Oth May, 1966, at the age of 53. Professor Pask was a member of the Committee of Management of the Institution.

HIS LIFE AND WORK A memorial service was held at St. Thomas' Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on June 16. Dr. Geoffrey Hale, M.B.E., M.B., B.Ch., of the Committee of Management, in a tribute to Prof. Pask, writes that at the service a large congregation gave thanks for his life and work. They were thankful "for Prof.

Pask's bravery and initiative in the Royal Air Force Institution of Aviation Medicine during the war.

'For his years of devoted service to medicine in the London Hospital, the Radcliffe Infirmary at Oxford, and in the Royal Victoria Infirmary in this city.

'For his abundant gifts as a teacher and research worker during his nineteen years as Reader and Professor of Anaesthetics, and his wise and balanced leadership in administration and planning in this University.

'For the guidance and help he gave to the cause of medicine in this country and overseas.

'For his active concern to promote the safety of life at sea and particularly in association with the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

'For his disregard for personal safety and convenience where the welfare of others was concerned.

'For his kindly and patient care for all whom he saved and for all with whom he worked." Dr. Hale continues: "This quotation from the order of service gives a broad picture of the quality of Prof. Pask's life and work, but it was particularly his work on resuscitation and life jacket design that were of such value to the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

'This was much more than the application of a clear and brilliant mind to the problems involved, because, only too much aware of the hazards, he submitted himself more than once to research procedures undertaken by his co-workers while he was deeply anaesthetized. The results of this research on the unconscious "casualty" undoubtedly led to the saving of many lives both during the war and afterwards.

'By the end of the war this work made him an acknowledged expert in many countries both in this field as well as his medical speciality of anaesthesia. In 1949 at the early age of 37 he was appointed Professor of Anaesthetics in the Medical School of the University of Durham (now part of the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne).'The Royal National Life-boat Institution have reason to be deeply thankful that he agreed to become honorary medical adviser to the Tynemouth life-boat station, and later to serve on the Committee of Management, where his painstaking mind and wide knowledge were invaluable in helping to develop the equipment of policies of the Institution.

'With associates in America Prof. Pask developed an anthropometric dummy which floated in the manner of an unconscious man and was used both by the Royal National Life-boat Institution and the Ministry of Transport during 1964 and 1965 for developing and testing life jackets.

'In conversation Prof. Pask was always lucid and went to great pains to help others understand his point of view, and it was of course this gift which made him such a valuable teacher in his medical school, where he was also an example of quiet determination and dedication.

'Prof. Pask's health, never robust, was evidently deteriorating in recent months but, characteristically, he never let this interfere with his work and within four days of his death he was answering routine letters on the Institution's medical administration.

'Such qualities and experience in one man can hardly be replaced and in the Royal National Life-boat Institution, as elsewhere, he will be sorely missed for years to come'..