Mid Sussex February 12 1988 

Obituary Dr Conrad James Farr F.R.C.O.G.

Dr Conrad James Farr, the man who it is often said brought half the people of Mid Sussex into the world, has died at the age of 85.

“Cockie”, as he was known affectionately to his friends, spent 50 years as a doctor in Cuckfield, as a general practitioner and as a consultant gynaecologist at Cuckfield Hospital before his retirement in 1967. And in recognition of his work at the hospital a newly built wing was named after him. In his later years he lived in Burrell cottages, Whitemans Green, and could often be seen pursuing one of his favourite hobbies of cycling around the district, in which he indulged right up to his death. 

He was born in 1902 in Yorkshire, where his father was a doctor, and after attending school there he went to Malborough and then to Kings College to read medicine. When he qualified he began work in a practice in Liverpool before joining the Navy and becoming a ship’s doctor. When his father moved to Cuckfield to run the doctor’s practice there in the 1920s, Cocky joined him and eventually on the death of his father, became senior partner in a very busy practice. 

His interest in gynaecology took him to Cuckfield Hospital where he worked as an obstetrician and gynaecologist until his retirement from the hospital in 1967. 

He had plenty to keep him occupied after his retirement including his hobbies of fishing, painting and tending his garden. Dr Farr’s love for Cuckfield and surrounding countryside was well known and he was often seen striding through the woods and fields with his dogs. 

Elected

He was elected mayor of the Independent state of Cuckfield in 1977, and Mrs Phil Bowring, the state secretary, said “he was a very popular man who always found the time to attend all our functions. He was very much loved in the village and will be very much missed”. 

Vice chairman of Cuckfield Parish Council, Mr Cyril Pike, had been a friend of Dr Farr’s for more than 60 years. 

Tremendous

He said “Dr Farr performed a tremendous amount of good for Cuckfield and will be sorely missed. He was a great man of the countryside, and it was only two weeks ago that I last saw him cycling around the village”.

Dr Farr’s niece Miss Jocelyn Bentley, of Bylands Crescent, said “I doubt there are many people in Mid Sussex whom he did not deliver as babies in Cuckfield hospital”. 

A packed congregation is expected for the funeral service which will be held in the holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, today.