COLIN LESLIE SMAILES
1935-2008
M.A., M.B., B.Ch. (Cambridge), L.M.C.C.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Colin Leslie Smailes. He is survived by his wife Catherine, his children, Angela, Peter (Rosanna), Elizabeth (Jay) and his grandchildren, Marina, Alexander, Yale and Oliver. He is also survived by his brother Ian and family in England.
Colin was born in Honley, Yorkshire, England on June 8th, 1935. He attended the Leys School in Cambridge and later Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He went on to The Royal London Hospital where, in 1959, he qualified to practice medicine. Colin immigrated to Canada in 1959 and interned at the Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, before moving to Surrey where he worked as a general practitioner for the next 43 years. While at Surrey Memorial Hospital he sat on numerous committees and later became Chief of Staff. He was very active on behalf of the medical profession and was a representative for District 6 on the Board of the B.C.M.A. He sat on the Patterns of Practice Committee for 16 years, and on the Fraser Health Region Board as the representative for the medical profession. He was greatly appreciated for his professional care and personal warmth. Colin came by his love of medicine honestly, being the fourth generation physician of the Smailes family.
After closing his practice in 1999, he joined Dr. Ching Lau in running the Transitional Care Unit at Northcrest Care Center before finally retiring in 2004. While at the Leys school Colin joined the sea scouts and so began a life-long love affair with boats and sailing. He built a wooden 33-foot trimaran, which he and Catherine spent many happy hours sailing in the San Juan and the Gulf Islands. He was a member of the Multihull Society and the Mud Bay Yacht Club where he moored his boat in the Nicomekl River. He was extremely creative and loved working with gadgets, many of which he made himself. He was also a gourmet cook and enjoyed creating meals for his family and friends. Our special thanks to Dr. David Luk for his most generous support and to the doctors and staff of the cancer clinic at Surrey Hospital.
A private family funeral service will be held this week, and a celebration of his life at a future date at the Victory Memorial Park Funeral Center, 14831 28th Ave Surrey. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the charity of your choice.