What The '

'What The' is about the Black Country, the folk, their life, their stoical attitudes, and their somewhat odd sense of humour. The author reflects on growing up in the grey post-war era; applying colour, he shows how times have changed into the bright new millennium. Using his experience as a GP he reveals his regard for the locals and expands on forgotten and abused members of society; the "retards", "gyppos" and "J.W.s". His references and opinions include answers to many enduring medical questions, and provide views on the political figures involved, sometimes amusing, sometimes not so... adding interest for the reader. It's not for children though; it contains strong dialect and stories of incidents and escapades, including births, suicides, and sadly deaths, even murder. There are some revelations never previously disclosed, such as the controversial incorrect diagnoses of "cot deaths", and others. What makes this different is that it isn't fiction. Other than some name and scenario changes for confidentiality, all the stories are true. They all actually occurred. Dr Edward Cooke, a long-serving doctor in the Black Country, was unusually both a GP Principal and a hospital specialist. With several previous medical publications, this is his first for a non-medical audience.