It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dr Colin Marcus Iskander MB, ChB, FRCGP, DRCOG, DCH
Colin died peacefully aged 87 at home in Woolverstone, Ipswich, on Monday 23 January 2023 due to a chest infection, following a short illness. He is survived by his beloved wife Elspeth of more than 60 years.
Colin was brother to Roma, Nigel, Barry and the late Dr Trevor Iskander, father to Jane, Susan and Mark, and grandfather to Theo and Lizzy, Tom and Felix. He was a friend of many and fondly remembered by patients and colleagues from 37 years as family doctor in Chelmsford.
Born on 2 July 1935 in Solihull, Colin was the third son of Margery and Dr Nagib Iskander. Colin attended Solihull School and then studied medicine at St Andrews University, where he developed an interest in preventative medicine, and graduated in 1960. He built valuable experience as houseman in casualty in Bradford, paediatrics in Inverness and obstetrics in Birmingham.
In April 1962, Colin married Elspeth Whitley and started his long career in general practice as trainee with Dr Oakley in Alum Rock Birmingham. He moved with Elspeth to Chelmsford, where in November 1962 he joined the practice led by his father-in-law Dr Theo Whitley, alongside Dr Charles de Gruchy. Colin became the sole GP in the practice, but soon built a thriving and progressive group practice and moved the surgery to Heavitree, the home he shared with Elspeth and their growing family in 1964. When the surgery was later extended it was named Whitley House in memory of Dr Theo Whitley.
While working in antenatal clinics at St John’s Hospital in Chelmsford, Colin was invited by the consultant David Brown to take part in a BBC Television series on midwifery, demonstrating antenatal care in a GP surgery and a home delivery and postnatal care at the surgery, concluding with him joining Joan Bakewell in the studio for a Q&A session. These programmes were later used for sex education in schools.
As a GP training scheme course organiser for many years, Colin was instrumental in training a generation of GPs in Essex. He was popular and known by the trainees for his innovative approach to teaching, introducing a novel residential aspect to the GP training programme, which continued for many years after he retired.
Colin was always keen to expand his own learning and gained additional qualifications in hypnotherapy, reflective writing and group facilitation among others. He was considered ahead of his time having a strong interest in holistic, patient-centred care and the importance of GPs developing excellent communication skills to ensure that patients felt listened to.
Colin retired from his role as a full-time GP at Whitley House surgery in Chelmsford in 1999. Following his retirement, such was his commitment to patient care that he continued his part-time role, teaching communication skills to medical students using the Cambridge Calgary model.
In his personal life, Colin was known as friendly and good company. He was well loved and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He held yachtmaster and skipper qualifications and enjoyed sailing his Nicholson 35 with a crew of friends and family around the UK and northern Europe, engaging in club level racing at his home club The Royal Harwich Yacht Club until recent years when his health reduced his enjoyment of sailing.
Colin was cared for at his home by family who were well supported by the community palliative care team. Donations are welcomed to St Elizabeth Hospice: https://coliniskander.muchloved.com.
A celebration of life will be held on 23 March 2023 at 1pm at Chelmsford Cathedral.
Susan & Jane Iskander
