Sydney Cope was born in Pudsey, the son of Abraham Cope, a master tailor, and his wife Gertrude, daughter of Maurice Mattison. He was educated at Pudsey Grammar School and Leeds University, graduating with distinction in forensic medicine in 1944. Following house officer posts at Leeds General Infirmary, he joined the RAMC as a graded physician and served in the Far East from 1947-49. After the war he held registrar posts in Macclesfield and Liverpool. Subsequently he was appointed a consultant physician at St Catherine’s Hospital, Birkenhead, and remained there until the opening of the new Arrowe Park Hospital where he completed his career.

Sydney Cope was primarily a physician but in his early years he published papers on cervical vertigo, rheumatic carditis and plasma amylase in diabetic coma. He developed an interest in diabetes and was largely responsible for the diabetic services in the Wirral. He was president of the Wirral branch of the British Diabetic Association.

He was a rather bluff yet very compassionate Yorkshireman; an excellent and caring physician and, during his time as a registrar, was recognized as an outstanding clinical teacher. Sydney was a very competent diagnostician noted for his thoroughness and expertise, while still retaining the common touch which allowed him to understand and sympathize with his patients.

He married Maureen, daughter of Henry Simpson, in 1970. He had two daughters from his first wife Irene, nee Suss, whom he married in 1944. Outside medicine his interests lay in literature, music, bridge and gardening.

R Finn