Wiltshire
| DRUGS RAID |  | | | SWINDON MAN TO GIVE UP RESIDENCY BATTLE | | | | PEWSEY SOLDIER TEACHES TROOPS | | | | COMBE CRASH DRAMA | | | | GAZETTE THEATRE | | | | | | | ON AT THE CINEMA | | | | | | |
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Drivers pay tribute to race track doctor
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| Peter Baskett in a racing car at Castle Combe where he spent 40 years as a volunteer |
MOTOR racing fans held a minute's silence on Monday in memory of Castle Combe's distinguished medical officer Peter Baskett.
Mr Baskett, 73, from Stanton St Quinton, near Chippenham, died from bowel cancer last month.
On Monday former colleagues and race compeditors stood in silence to remember a loyal and committed volunteer.
Mr Baskett, who was a retired consultant anaesthetist who worked for many years at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, had volunteered with the circuit for more than 40 years.
Castle Combe owner Howard Strawford said: "Peter was a fantastic man.
"There is no doubt he will be missed, it is going to be very, very odd. We have other doctors who come in and do a great job, but it will not be the same without him."
Mr Baskett began working with the circuit's medical team in the 1960s and became chief medical officer in 1972.
Mr Strawford said: "When he first started there was an awful lot of work to do around the track.
"I set up working parties to help put up the barriers around the course and he turned up and got stuck in.
"I was desperate for him not to damage his hands, we couldn't have him doing that, but he got stuck in with the best of them."
Mr Baskett was appointed consultant anaesthetist at Frenchay Hospital in 1966.
He had been editor-in-chief of the medical journal Resuscitation from 1997,
authored over 170 scientific publications and was on the board of the European Resuscitation Council.
He also pioneered advanced training for ambulance personnel in the UK, who are now known as paramedics.
"He was a big believer in voluntary work," said Mr Strawford. "He always had paperwork to do and he would come up to the circuit and punch away on his laptop hoping not to be bothered.
"If he thought you were wasting his time he would give you a very blunt answer but he was a fantastic man."
Despite stepping down as chief medical officer five years ago, Mr Baskett
remained a member of the circuit's medical team until his death on April 18.
He leaves behind wife Fiona, son Simon and daughters Lucy, Olivia and Beatrice.
"He never ever retired and we just called him the deputy chief medical officer," said Mr Strawford.
Wife Fiona, who worked with Mr Baskett on the medical team at Castle Combe, described him as "a larger than life character" who was respected.
"I have had hundreds of letters of condolence all writing about different aspects of his life," she said.
"He was very generous, had a fantastic sense of
humour and was mentor to a lot of people.
"I am very, very proud of all he did and I will miss him terribly."
11:08am Thursday 8th May 2008
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