CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF
Pradip Kumar Datta MBE MS FRCS
14th May 1940 – 19th March 2022
14th May 1940 – 19th March 2022
We are up-loading a copy of the stream shortly.
Order of Service
Personal Messages
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I first met Mr. Datta in the Bignold hospital as a young staff nurse in 1986 and we moved into CGH at the end of that year. He was the only consultant surgeon back then, before being joined by Colonel Johnston.
In theatre he set up his corner with a coffee table, chairs and his cryptic crossword as many of us smoked in those days in the coffee room. We took great delight in solving a clue.
He was always very bemused by your “Wicker” accent and adoption of the lingo. “Dad, gies a shottie” made us laugh.
At the operating table he was always teaching the junior doctors, students and staff. He would start a sentence and wait for the trainee to complete the answer. As a scrub nurse we would have heard it all and would be patiently waiting on hearing the learner get it right. He was a true “ General Surgeon” and there was little he didn’t do whilst accepting advances in technology and knowing where his expertise lay. He left the newcomers to Endoscopy and Laparoscopy.
Socially on Theatre nights out he was great fun. I remember being chauffeured round Thurso in his “posh” car, the first time I had ever experienced the concept of heated seats.
A keen fisherman, we would await the tales of his catch or not at the weekend, sometimes he even called by with said fish in boot to be photographed as proof.
He was a man of great integrity, held in high regard and with huge respect by his team. I can honestly say I never once saw him lose his temper.
After his retrial from surgery he had an honorary room to continue his teaching and preparation of young doctors for exams. There are many people who owe their success to him.
~Joanne MacNicols~
---
I started work for PKD in 1997 2 years after I started work in CGH. It didn’t take long for us to form a bond and respect for each other. I thinks it was over the 100s of slides we compiled or 100s of course folders for PKD FRCS course that was made!!
A highlight in working for PKD was the holding of the FRCS Examinations in CGH, Wick. It had never been done before and it was a privilege to hold such a prestige event. Everything was organised like a military operation and it was a huge success. The hardest part of the event was explaining to the Caithness patients not to tell the candidates what their diagnosis and treatment was and that the whole point was that the candidates had to guess!! The patients were bursting to volunteer all the information.
Over the years a great friendship was formed between PKD, Swati, myself and family. When PKD retired he enjoyed going for a run in his convertible Mercedes. PKD was well aware of my love of baking. I would see the car pulling up on my drive and I would invite PKD in for cakes. He told me that Sandip couldn’t believe that he would just arrived unannounced for cake … that was special. PKD would also invite me round for lunch on a Wednesday when I was at work. When I arrived the table would be laid with food – it was like a banquet! It was a struggle to get back to work within an hour as there was always so much to discuss.
PKD will be remembered as a great, generous man. Not only would he donate ALL teaching fees to charity over the years he was generous with his time and knowledge. I remember when he would terrorise my children that would come in to the hospital to see me after school – he would bellow “DO YOU WANT AN OPERATION?!?” to them – it was eventually a great joke and the kids would know what he was going to say before he said it.
I never stopped being PKD’s secretary and when Pradip had his stroke I was called to the ward. He wanted me to help him finish writing the book. Over the weeks and months, the finishing amendments were done from his room in the Bignold Wing and then at home. It was a massive achievement with all his health issues but he did it!!! It was a very proud moment when I was personally presented with a signed copy of the book – something that I will treasure forever. PKD will be remembered as a remarkable man and as a colleague … “he was a legend”.
~Kirsten Mckay~
---
Mr Datta was a wonderful man, very positive and always had a laugh and a smile. He kept things in perspective, especially when things didn't go quite according to plan! I went to Wick for the first time many years ago to hold the first MRCS examination which Pradip hosted. We sent the candidates up from Edinburgh in a minibus! I also travelled to India with Pradip on numerous occasions where he was held in great regard by all.
He was such an active man and I remember even when we were away hosting exams overseas, which were busy days and social evenings he would still be up at the crack of dawn to have a swim. Of course the squash and fishing were always on the agenda at home and he was an amazingly talented squash player and shared his love of fishing with you too. I know none of this is news to you but hopefully comforting for you to know how much he was respected.
Over the years that I knew Pradip I feel that he taught how to handle challenging situations. Unfortunately the only helpful advise I managed to give in return was how to bake a potato in the microwave!! Not quite on the same level!
~Sue Grant~
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Pradip was responsible for educating and training many surgeons both in the UK and overseas. His Fellowship course meant that applications for jobs in Caithness ran to several hundreds (which made shortlisting interesting) and we often had a high calibre of trainee. It was after a phone call from him that I revisited Wick and applied for a post.
He was secretary to the Surgical College of Edinburgh although held Fellowships to all the other colleges.
He was a gentleman and will be missed by the community of Caithness and all his colleagues.
~Paul Fisher~
---
It is really very sad news. I attended his course and worked under him as an SHO at Caithness General Hospital. I am so grateful to this legendary teacher! The news is really breaking my heart! Rest in peace Mr. Datta.
~Kausik Ray~
---
I am very sorry that Pradip has passed away: he was an example to us all and managed to get the Edinburgh College interested in "Viking " Surgery very early on, especially with his bespoke Basic Surgical Skills course, which was world renowned.
He once did a 2 week locum for me in Shetland to cover annual leave. He rocked up (smarter than me!) and we went through a list of all the patients and their problems. He said "seems all in order " - which I took as a compliment.
On return he had a similar list of patient details for me. I said "seems all in order- thank you Pradip". He replied "I think we see surgically eye to eye " and that I took as the best surgical compliment I have ever received.
He is a huge loss and will be much missed.
~Alastair Coutts~
---
This is sad news indeed. I got to know Pradip in the early 2000s, on the College Council in Edinburgh, and then later when he trained me as an MRCS examiner. Latterly, I spent some happy hours with Pradip, in his side room, at Caithness General, when I was working there. It was a great privilege to listen to his tales, look at the drafts of his book, and receive his pearls of wisdom. A true giant of Viking Surgery.
~Simon Cole~
---
I first met Mr. Datta in the Bignold hospital as a young staff nurse in 1986 and we moved into CGH at the end of that year. He was the only consultant surgeon back then, before being joined by Colonel Johnston.
In theatre he set up his corner with a coffee table, chairs and his cryptic crossword as many of us smoked in those days in the coffee room. We took great delight in solving a clue.
He was always very bemused by your “Wicker” accent and adoption of the lingo. “Dad, gies a shottie” made us laugh.
At the operating table he was always teaching the junior doctors, students and staff. He would start a sentence and wait for the trainee to complete the answer. As a scrub nurse we would have heard it all and would be patiently waiting on hearing the learner get it right. He was a true “ General Surgeon” and there was little he didn’t do whilst accepting advances in technology and knowing where his expertise lay. He left the newcomers to Endoscopy and Laparoscopy.
Socially on Theatre nights out he was great fun. I remember being chauffeured round Thurso in his “posh” car, the first time I had ever experienced the concept of heated seats.
A keen fisherman, we would await the tales of his catch or not at the weekend, sometimes he even called by with said fish in boot to be photographed as proof.
He was a man of great integrity, held in high regard and with huge respect by his team. I can honestly say I never once saw him lose his temper.
After his retrial from surgery he had an honorary room to continue his teaching and preparation of young doctors for exams. There are many people who owe their success to him.
~Joanne MacNicols~
---
I started work for PKD in 1997 2 years after I started work in CGH. It didn’t take long for us to form a bond and respect for each other. I thinks it was over the 100s of slides we compiled or 100s of course folders for PKD FRCS course that was made!!
A highlight in working for PKD was the holding of the FRCS Examinations in CGH, Wick. It had never been done before and it was a privilege to hold such a prestige event. Everything was organised like a military operation and it was a huge success. The hardest part of the event was explaining to the Caithness patients not to tell the candidates what their diagnosis and treatment was and that the whole point was that the candidates had to guess!! The patients were bursting to volunteer all the information.
Over the years a great friendship was formed between PKD, Swati, myself and family. When PKD retired he enjoyed going for a run in his convertible Mercedes. PKD was well aware of my love of baking. I would see the car pulling up on my drive and I would invite PKD in for cakes. He told me that Sandip couldn’t believe that he would just arrived unannounced for cake … that was special. PKD would also invite me round for lunch on a Wednesday when I was at work. When I arrived the table would be laid with food – it was like a banquet! It was a struggle to get back to work within an hour as there was always so much to discuss.
PKD will be remembered as a great, generous man. Not only would he donate ALL teaching fees to charity over the years he was generous with his time and knowledge. I remember when he would terrorise my children that would come in to the hospital to see me after school – he would bellow “DO YOU WANT AN OPERATION?!?” to them – it was eventually a great joke and the kids would know what he was going to say before he said it.
I never stopped being PKD’s secretary and when Pradip had his stroke I was called to the ward. He wanted me to help him finish writing the book. Over the weeks and months, the finishing amendments were done from his room in the Bignold Wing and then at home. It was a massive achievement with all his health issues but he did it!!! It was a very proud moment when I was personally presented with a signed copy of the book – something that I will treasure forever. PKD will be remembered as a remarkable man and as a colleague … “he was a legend”.
~Kirsten Mckay~
---
Mr Datta was a wonderful man, very positive and always had a laugh and a smile. He kept things in perspective, especially when things didn't go quite according to plan! I went to Wick for the first time many years ago to hold the first MRCS examination which Pradip hosted. We sent the candidates up from Edinburgh in a minibus! I also travelled to India with Pradip on numerous occasions where he was held in great regard by all.
He was such an active man and I remember even when we were away hosting exams overseas, which were busy days and social evenings he would still be up at the crack of dawn to have a swim. Of course the squash and fishing were always on the agenda at home and he was an amazingly talented squash player and shared his love of fishing with you too. I know none of this is news to you but hopefully comforting for you to know how much he was respected.
Over the years that I knew Pradip I feel that he taught how to handle challenging situations. Unfortunately the only helpful advise I managed to give in return was how to bake a potato in the microwave!! Not quite on the same level!
~Sue Grant~
---
Pradip was responsible for educating and training many surgeons both in the UK and overseas. His Fellowship course meant that applications for jobs in Caithness ran to several hundreds (which made shortlisting interesting) and we often had a high calibre of trainee. It was after a phone call from him that I revisited Wick and applied for a post.
He was secretary to the Surgical College of Edinburgh although held Fellowships to all the other colleges.
He was a gentleman and will be missed by the community of Caithness and all his colleagues.
~Paul Fisher~
---
It is really very sad news. I attended his course and worked under him as an SHO at Caithness General Hospital. I am so grateful to this legendary teacher! The news is really breaking my heart! Rest in peace Mr. Datta.
~Kausik Ray~
---
I am very sorry that Pradip has passed away: he was an example to us all and managed to get the Edinburgh College interested in "Viking " Surgery very early on, especially with his bespoke Basic Surgical Skills course, which was world renowned.
He once did a 2 week locum for me in Shetland to cover annual leave. He rocked up (smarter than me!) and we went through a list of all the patients and their problems. He said "seems all in order " - which I took as a compliment.
On return he had a similar list of patient details for me. I said "seems all in order- thank you Pradip". He replied "I think we see surgically eye to eye " and that I took as the best surgical compliment I have ever received.
He is a huge loss and will be much missed.
~Alastair Coutts~
---
This is sad news indeed. I got to know Pradip in the early 2000s, on the College Council in Edinburgh, and then later when he trained me as an MRCS examiner. Latterly, I spent some happy hours with Pradip, in his side room, at Caithness General, when I was working there. It was a great privilege to listen to his tales, look at the drafts of his book, and receive his pearls of wisdom. A true giant of Viking Surgery.
~Simon Cole~
---
Thank You Messages
Words cannot express how much we thank you for the expressions of sympathy and all the help that you have provided us with during our moment of sorrow.
We are truly grateful for your friendship and support
~The Datta Family~
We are truly grateful for your friendship and support
~The Datta Family~
