Thomas Cecil Gray
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cecil Gray CBE
, KCSG (11 March 1913 – 5 January 2008), was a pioneering British anaesthetist.
in 1913. The only son of Thomas and Ethel Gray of Thornton, he was educated at Ampleforth College
in Yorkshire. At the age of 18, he joined the order of monks at the Benedictine college of Ampleforth, but after two months it became clear that this was not the vocation for him and he returned to Liverpool to pursue medicine, qualifying in 1937.
in 1941. He developed an extensive practice in the leading local hospitals, before joining the Royal Army Medical Corps
. He was posted to a mobile neurosurgical unit in Oxford, and later to North Africa.
Returning to Liverpool University in 1947 as Reader, he established the Department of Anaesthesia, and introduced tubocurarine
with mechanical lung ventilation
. This became known as the ‘Liverpool technique’, based on the triad of unconsciousness, analgesia and muscle relaxation, with a markedly lower complication rate than deep inhalational anaesthesia. Gray introduced train-of-four monitoring, still used today.
Cecil Gray made a great contribution to postgraduate education, organising the first "day-release" course in Britain for junior anaesthetists preparing for their examinations. The course attracted trainees from all over Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, Australia, Africa and India.
in 1948, he served as vice-dean in 1952 and dean in 1964. Gray was the editor of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
from 1948 to 1964. He was President of the Section of Anaesthetics of the Royal Society of Medicine
in 1955 and the first anaesthetist to be awarded the Sir Arthur Sims Commonwealth Travelling Fellowship by the RCS (England). An active council member of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
, Gray served as treasurer and as president (1957–1959). In 1959, he was awarded a personal chair in anaesthesia at the University of Liverpool
and was made Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in 1970, retiring in 1976, but continued to give occasional lectures.
Gray was appointed CBE
in 1976 by Her Majesty Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
and in 1982 was honoured by Pope John Paul II
with the membership of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
as a Knight Commander. In 2007 the Liverpool Echo
included him in its list of the 800 greatest Liverpudlians, as part of Liverpool's 800th anniversary.
A requiem mass was held at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
on 26 January 2008.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, KCSG (11 March 1913 – 5 January 2008), was a pioneering British anaesthetist.
Early life
Gray was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in 1913. The only son of Thomas and Ethel Gray of Thornton, he was educated at Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
in Yorkshire. At the age of 18, he joined the order of monks at the Benedictine college of Ampleforth, but after two months it became clear that this was not the vocation for him and he returned to Liverpool to pursue medicine, qualifying in 1937.
Professional life
He began a career in General Practice, giving anaesthetics for his patients when they needed surgery. Anaesthesia became his main interest, and he gained a Diploma in AnaestheticsRoyal College of Anaesthetists
The Royal College of Anaesthetists is "the professional body responsible for the specialty of anaesthesia throughout the United Kingdom". It sets standards in anaesthesia, critical care, pain management, and for the training of anaesthetists, physician assistants - and practising critical care...
in 1941. He developed an extensive practice in the leading local hospitals, before joining the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
. He was posted to a mobile neurosurgical unit in Oxford, and later to North Africa.
Returning to Liverpool University in 1947 as Reader, he established the Department of Anaesthesia, and introduced tubocurarine
Tubocurarine
Tubocurarine is a neuromuscular-blocking drug or skeletal muscle relaxant in the category of non-depolarizing neuromuscular-blocking drugs, used adjunctively in anesthesia to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation...
with mechanical lung ventilation
Mechanical ventilation
In medicine, mechanical ventilation is a method to mechanically assist or replace spontaneous breathing. This may involve a machine called a ventilator or the breathing may be assisted by a physician, respiratory therapist or other suitable person compressing a bag or set of bellows...
. This became known as the ‘Liverpool technique’, based on the triad of unconsciousness, analgesia and muscle relaxation, with a markedly lower complication rate than deep inhalational anaesthesia. Gray introduced train-of-four monitoring, still used today.
Cecil Gray made a great contribution to postgraduate education, organising the first "day-release" course in Britain for junior anaesthetists preparing for their examinations. The course attracted trainees from all over Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, Australia, Africa and India.
Honours
A foundation member of Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons of EnglandRoyal College of Anaesthetists
The Royal College of Anaesthetists is "the professional body responsible for the specialty of anaesthesia throughout the United Kingdom". It sets standards in anaesthesia, critical care, pain management, and for the training of anaesthetists, physician assistants - and practising critical care...
in 1948, he served as vice-dean in 1952 and dean in 1964. Gray was the editor of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
British Journal of Anaesthesia
BJA: British Journal of Anaesthesia is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, of which it is the official journal. It was established in 1923 and covers all aspects of anaesthesia. The current editor-in-chief is...
from 1948 to 1964. He was President of the Section of Anaesthetics of the Royal Society of Medicine
Royal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
in 1955 and the first anaesthetist to be awarded the Sir Arthur Sims Commonwealth Travelling Fellowship by the RCS (England). An active council member of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland represents over 10,000 anaesthetists in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland....
, Gray served as treasurer and as president (1957–1959). In 1959, he was awarded a personal chair in anaesthesia at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and was made Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in 1970, retiring in 1976, but continued to give occasional lectures.
Gray was appointed CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1976 by Her Majesty Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
and in 1982 was honoured by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
with the membership of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
as a Knight Commander. In 2007 the Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Saturday, and is Liverpool's evening newspaper while its sister paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, is the morning paper...
included him in its list of the 800 greatest Liverpudlians, as part of Liverpool's 800th anniversary.
Private life
He married twice, his first wife was Marjorie Kathleen Hely in 1937, they had 2 children, and she died in 1978. He then married Pamela Mary Corning in 1979, with whom he had 1 son. He also had four grandchildren.A requiem mass was held at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Christ the King is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Liverpool and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool. The Metropolitan Cathedral is one of two cathedrals in the city...
on 26 January 2008.