planetf1.com

Some 200 people attended a memorial service for “the Prof”, “Sid”, Professor Eric Sidney Watkins OBE FRCS, in London on Friday morning, roughly equally divided between F1 and medical people.
...
Another leading neurosurgeon, Mr Peter J Hamlyn, who trained under Sid at the Royal London Hospital, told of Watkins’s ground-breaking research into the previously inaccesible mid-brain area, which with the surgical techniques he developed enabled otherwise incurable conditions to be successfully treated. Turning to his F1 work, Hamlyn described the wider impact. When in 2005 the London Olympic bid was presented to the IOC, one of the first questions was : “Will the medical care for the athletes be up to Formula 1 Standards ?”
...
Other tributes were paid by Dr Sandy Saunders, who trained with Sid in Liverpool and became a life-long friend, and for the racing community, by Sir Jackie Stewart and Jeffrey Rose, past president of the RAC and member of the FIA Board, and a fishing companion of Sid’s. There was much mention of Sid’s love of fine whisky.

Among those present from the F1 world were FIA President Jean Todt, two World Champions sitting side by side, Damon Hill and Jody Scheckter, Martin Brundle, Patrick Head, and Herbie Blash of F1 race control, plus many more more anonymous members of the F1 fraternity. Two representatives came from the Sakhir ciruit in Bahrain especially for the event.

No current Formula 1 drivers were present.

I personally find no excuse valid.

Shame on them. Each and single one.

So if Sids family asked them to stay away, you think they should have gate crashed a memorial?

Of course, no. But you know, that's a big "if".

Why didn't they tell Jean Todt, Damon Hill, Jody Scheckter, Martin Brundle, Patrick Head, and Herbie Blash to stay away? Why would they single out active drivers?

Why didn't they tell Jean Todt, Damon Hill, Jody Scheckter, Martin Brundle, Patrick Head, and Herbie Blash to stay away? Why would they single out active drivers?

I know most F1 drivers may be still off finishing their holiday season etc but taking one day off it to attend the service of a man who indirectly and in some cases directly saved their lives been too hard?

The Ferrari boys were doing the Vroom event so can be excused. Hamilton is on holiday skiing, Button is in training I believe, Schumacher is retired so what is his excuse?

No Hakkinen either. That surprised me after Adelaide 95.

Your involved in a car accident, a doctor/paramedic makes a quick intervention that saves your life. 20 years later you somehow here that this person has died and a funeral is held in another country to the one you are in. Do you go to the funeral?

I am a paramedic and I doubt many of my patients will be attending my funeral.

Given how Sid was always around the paddock at the same time as the drivers I think it makes the situation slightly different. You might never see the doctor who treated you again, these drivers saw him every couple of weeks sometimes for several years.

Isn't that a bit of a misleading quote at the end? When Sid retired in 2005, only 6 of the 2013 field were F1 drivers. Two of who were doing FIAT PR work at the time. So really it raises a small question over Mark Webber, Jenson Button, Tim O'Glock and Kimi Raikkonen. The rest of the field know Gary Hartstein as the F1 doctor.

Isn't that a bit of a misleading quote at the end? When Sid retired in 2005, only 6 of the 2013 field were F1 drivers. Two of who were doing FIAT PR work at the time. So really it raises a small question over Mark Webber, Jenson Button, Tim O'Glock and Kimi Raikkonen. The rest of the field know Gary Hartstein as the F1 doctor.

Your involved in a car accident, a doctor/paramedic makes a quick intervention that saves your life. 20 years later you somehow here that this person has died and a funeral is held in another country to the one you are in. Do you go to the funeral?

I am a paramedic and I doubt many of my patients will be attending my funeral.

I think it's a different comparison though. Sid was someone who specialised as the Doctor for a specific group of people.

Sometimes this forum is unbelievable.

Isn't that a bit of a misleading quote at the end? When Sid retired in 2005, only 6 of the 2013 field were F1 drivers. Two of who were doing FIAT PR work at the time. So really it raises a small question over Mark Webber, Jenson Button, Tim O'Glock and Kimi Raikkonen. The rest of the field know Gary Hartstein as the F1 doctor.

While I agree that the end quote is a little misleading, the fact that two wear "doing PR work" is no excuse.
The only excuse the six drivers who were part of Watkins' 'generation' have is if they weren't invited.

While I agree that the end quote is a little misleading, the fact that two wear "doing PR work" is no excuse.
The only excuse the six drivers who were part of Watkins' 'generation' have is if they weren't invited.

What a ridiculous thing to say . So what Prof. Sid Watkins did benefited only those 6 drivers of the current grid ?

That's a completely different thing. I'm sure you benefit from the work of numerous people one way or the other. But usually people only attend funerals/memorials if they know someone personally.

While I agree that the end quote is a little misleading, the fact that two wear "doing PR work" is no excuse.
The only excuse the six drivers who were part of Watkins' 'generation' have is if they weren't invited.

... The service was attended by many from the world of motor sport, including FIA President Jean Todt, Formula One World champions Sir Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and Jody Scheckter. Three-time F1 champion Stewart spoke movingly about the huge number of drivers who owe their lives and motor racing careers to the pioneering work...

After 10 years you're still surprised ?