Jeremy Feggetter TD DL OStJ
Obituary by Jonathan Goddard based on Jeremy's own notes
Jeremy George Weightman Feggetter TD DL OStJ FRCS was born on 5th May 1943 in Newcastle upon Tyne. At the time his father, George Young Feggetter, a Consultant Surgeon at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, was commanding a Field Surgical Team in North Africa following Operation Torch.
Jeremy was educated at Aysgarth School in North Yorkshire and subsequently Harrow before going up to Durham University and Newcastle Medical School. He was a keen fencer and captained both the school and Newcastle University teams.
His initial general surgical training was at the Royal Victoria infirmary Newcastle where he was SHO to his father for six months followed by registrar posts which included the Regional Urology Department at Newcastle General Hospital with Prof John Swinney MC and Mr Keith Yeates.
He held a research post in the department of surgery under Prof Ivan Johnston investigating fat metabolism after injury and was appointed Senior Registrar in 1975 on the Newcastle General Surgery rotation. His initial post was in Urology with Mr David Essenhigh and Keith Yeates followed by two years on the Regional Vascular Unit with Mr Peter Dickinson and Mr Ian McNeil, where, as well as undertaking general surgery, he repaired some 15 ruptured aortic aneurysms solo with 33% mortality rate and on one occasion an emergency Whipples Procedure.
At this time, he decided to pursue a urological career and in 1978 was able to transfer to the St Peter’s Hospital Group and Institute of Urology where he was RSO for Sir David Innes Williams, Mr J E A Wickham and Mr R T Turner Warwick. He returned to the North East on appointment as a Urologist with a general surgery commitment to set up a urology department in Ashington, Northumberland linked to Freeman Hospital. This was the start of the hub and spoke model that developed in the North East and then nationally.
At Ashington Hospital, with Dr David Lauckner (Consultant Radiologist) he performed the first percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the North East having been encouraged to pursue this technique by Mr J E A Whickham and Dr M J Kellet.
Due to his upbringing he always had an interest in the Military and in 1972 joined the Territorial Army and was commissioned into the RAMC as a GDMO (General Duties Medical Office). He served during the ‘First Gulf War’ (Dec 1990 – April 1991) as Consultant Surgeon with 205 General Hospital RAMC in Saudi Arabia following which he commanded 201 (N) General Hospital (1991 – ’94) being appointed Honorary Surgeon to Queen Elizabeth II in 1992. He was commissioned Deputy Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear in 1999 and retired from the Territorial Army in 2004 with the rank of Colonel. He was awarded the Territorial Decoration and was made an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem by the late Queen.
He was elected to BAUS Council October 1995 – September 1998 and was subsequently the Royal College of Surgeons Regional Adviser and BAUS Representative for the North East (1998 – 2003).
He was a strong supporter of the Royal Society of Medicine serving on the Urology Section Council 1990 - 2006 as an elected member. He served as Hon Sec to Mr Roger Fenely President (1995-1996). He remained on Section Council and was elected President 2005-2006. His Presidential address given on 20th October 2005, entitled ‘40 Years On’ was a comparison of his training and practice over the 40 years since qualification with that of his father. His Winter Meeting was held in Meribel-Mottaret 21st – 28th January 2006.
He was elected a Member of Council and a Trustee of the RSM 2007 – 2011, but after his Presidential year he undertook a phased retirement from clinical work. This allowed him time to pursue his hobby of aviation having qualified as a pilot in 1967 and had on occasions flown himself to urology conferences in Europe. He enjoyed country pursuits and was a keen shot. In 2007 he took over as Chairman of the Tyne and Wear Branch of SSAFA – ‘The Forces Charity’ which supports anyone who has served, their families and dependents when they need.
Jeremy passed away suddenly on Monday 9th March 2026 from an MI whilst on holiday in South Africa with his partner Maggi.
← Back to Memorial Garden