LMITransactions&Report2014-15

LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015

Depage wanted to pioneer the training of nurses in The execution was carried out at dawn by a firing
Belgium along the lines of Florence Nightingale. Until squad, on October 12th, 1915, in Brussels. Edith was
now, nuns had been responsible for the care of the still wearing her nurse's uniform. Until the end of the
sick and, however kind and well intentioned, they had war Edith's body was buried where she was executed
no training for the work. Edith Cavell, now in her early and then carried from Dover to London in a passenger
forties, was put in charge of a pioneer training school luggage wagon. This same wagon was used for
for lay nurses, 'L'Ecole Belge d'Infirmieres Diplomees', carrying the body of the Unknown Soldier some time
on the outskirts of Brussels. It was formed out of four later. Her family wanted her re-interred at Norfolk
adjoining houses and opened on October 10th, 1907. Cathedral and she was re-interred just outside the
Cathedral in a spot called Life’s Green.
By August 1914 she was despatching the Dutch and
German nurses home and impressing on the others Account by Reverend H. Stirling Gahan
that their first duty was to care for the wounded on the Execution of Edith Cavell
irrespective of nationality. The clinic became a Red
Cross Hospital, with German soldiers receiving the On Monday evening, October 11th, I was admitted by
same attention as Belgian. When Brussels fell, the special passport from the German authorities to the
Germans commandeered the Royal Palace for their prison of St. Gilles, where Miss Edith Cavell had been
own wounded and 60 English nurses were sent home. confined for ten weeks. The final sentence had been
Edith Cavell and her chief assistant, Miss Wilkins given early that afternoon. To my astonishment and
remained. At her establishment, Edith sheltered relief I found my friend perfectly calm and resigned.
British, French and Belgian soldiers, from where they But this could not lessen the tenderness and intensity
were helped to escape to Holland. Edith provided of feeling on either part during that last interview of
refuge for soldiers in her school whilst they waited for almost an hour.
the necessary documents and guide to get over the
border. She also provided medical care for any who Her first words to me were upon a matter concerning
were wounded. Edith's network managed to help herself personally, but the solemn asseveration which
over 200 Allied soldiers to escape and, thereby, live to accompanied them was made expressedly in the light
fight another day. Throughout Belgium, thousands of God and eternity.
were helped by other networks in similar ways.
She then added that she wished all her friends to
know that she willingly gave her life for her country,
and said: "I have no fear nor shrinking; I have seen
death so often that it is not strange or fearful to me."

Edith’s cell in prison She gave me parting messages for relations and
friends. She spoke of her soul's needs at the moment
Edith was not arrested for espionage, as many people and she received the assurance of God's Word as only
believed, but for treason. The Germans discovered the Christian can do. Then I said "Good-by," and she
that she had helped many allies escape and arrested smiled and said, "We shall meet again." The German
her. The Americans argued that she could not be tried military chaplain was with her at the end and
or executed for treason, because as a British citizen afterwards gave her Christian burial. He told me: "She
she had no allegiance to Germany; however the was brave and bright to the last. She professed her
American minister in Belgium was not allowed to Christian faith and that she was glad to die for her
attend the trial. country." "She died like a heroine."

Lynne Smith
Assistant Editor

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LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015

Retired Members’ Group

Tuesday 14th October 2014 Tuesday 19th May 2015
The Cheshire Salt Industry and Liverpool Connections SUMMER OUTING
Gilmour Stubbs, Former MD, NW Cheshire Salt Works Visit to Elthorn’s Farm, Burton, Home of Mark & Tass
Ltd Leather
Gilmour’s family company worked about 8% of the The weather was kind to our group of about 30 when
huge Cheshire Salt Industry before being subsumed we were welcomed to this glorious house and garden
into the dominant British Salt Ltd a few years ago. by Mark and Tass. Further exploration led us to a trio
Quite apart from producing an essential ingredient of classic cars on display in the yard, two XK Jaguars
for industry and food, the huge underground spaces and an early model Porsche. The crowning glory (for
of the salt mines are used for safe storage of all the boys at least) was a large shippon laid out with an
manner of items except those prone to rust. amazingly complex model railway. We were dragged
away, almost screaming, to a fine lunch at the Red Fox
Tuesday 2nd December 2014 pub in Thornton Hough.
Hidden Gems of Merseyside
Ian Meadows CBE, DL. High Sheriff of Merseyside ENVOI
2013-4. Executive Chairman RS Clare & Co. About a year ago, I said that after ten years I had run
Ian spoke mostly of his family company, RS Clare, who my course as convenor of these meetings. It was an
manufacture lubricants. The company was founded honour and delight to do them. I include a list of the
in 1748 and continues to trade robustly in its second meetings we had. I thank our speakers most of whom
quarter MILLENIUM! Part of the factory is on the site were not doctors and thus relative strangers to the
of the former Royal Southern Hospital. This was a LMI. I thank members and their guests who took part.
point of nostalgia for some members. Ian also told us I thank the LMI staff for coping with the chaos which
some amusing tales arising from his recent tour of I often created.
duty as High Sheriff of Merseyside.
It is a great joy to me that Chris Evans has agreed to
Tuesday 10th March 2015 take over now. Please give him your full support.
Fracking
David Millar, MD Heap & Partners, Birkenhead Austin Carty
David’s family business, Heap & Co. has been trading
in Birkenhead for almost 150 years. Its main interest Members who have attended the decade of thrice
is in control of fluid at high pressure. Fracking is the yearly meetings, which Austin has served up for us,
process of extracting hidden reserves of gas and oil together with varied summer outings, will be sorry to
from underground stores, previously untapped, using lose his innovative, convivial style and panache. In
water under high pressure. The prospect of a bounty thanking him on behalf of us all and wishing him well,
of almost unlimited fossil fuel could prompt a second I do hope that you will support the programme I am
industrial revolution. Reserves in the North of arranging, the details of which will be circulated in the
England are very great. So far, the UK has been usual way. I look forward to you joining me at midday
reluctant to commit to fracking, largely for fear of on October 20th.
unknown consequences.
Chris Evans

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LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015

LMI Retired Members Group
Meeting Schedule 2005-2015: Convenor A T Carty

Date Speaker Title

October 2005 Stanley Owens: Guide dogs for the blind

December 2005 Sir David Henshaw Cranes over the City

March 2006 James Carmichael Glyndebourne

Summer Outing Visit to Rydal Hall and Summerdale House, Cumbria: Sheals Family

October 2006 Captain Mick Owen Soldiers of the Queen

December 2006 Michael Groves Fairbridge

March 2007 Howard Beddow British Canals (part 2)

Summer Outing Visit to Aintree Racecourse

October 2007 Bob Muirhead Mechanical Music

December 2007 Don Menzies Aspects of Midwifery in 19th and 20th centuries

March 2008 Kit Jackson Investment in Fine Wine

Summer Outing Visit to Speke Hall

October 2008 Tony Ensor An Indian Summer in Crime

December 2008 David Lloyd Footballs for Fun

March 2009 Arthur Aldcroft Cotton: the Liverpool Connection

Summer Outing Visit to Bryngwyn Hall, Welshpool

October 2009 Austin Carty A Favourite of the King

December 2009 Frank Carlyle Liverpool Unravelled

March 2010 Nick Wainwright Fascinating Gemstones

October 2010 Terry Overill ‘Operatunity’ in Retirement

December 2010 Helen Carty Carving a niche

March 2011 Elizabeth Steele Liverpool Theatres: History and Present

May 2011 Simon Marsh Sods I have cut on the Turf

October 2011 Peter Kennerley What’s so special about Liverpool Cathedral?

December 2011 Sophia Povey The Reader Organisation

March 2012 Bruce Gibson Past Imperfect or Future Perfect

Summer Outing Visit to Hoylake Lifeboat Station

October 2012 Paul Nolan The Mersey Forester

December 2012 Iolo Thomas Pole Dancing at the Bar. (River Mersey Pilot Service)

March 2013 James Carmichael The Arnolfini Portrait

Summer Outing Ian Tracey Organ Recital at Liverpool Cathedral

December 2013 Jane Kennedy Policing Merseyside: Partners in Crime

March 2014 Lesley Dixon PSS in its 94th year

Summer Outing Visit to the new Central Library, William Brown Street

October 2014 Gilmour Stubbs The Cheshire Salt Industry: Liverpool Connections December

2014 Ian Meadows Little Gems of Merseyside

March 2015 David Millar Fracking

Summer Outing Visit Mark and Tass Leather’s home: Garden, Model Trains and Classic Cars

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LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015
56

LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015

Report of the Strategic Management Council (SMC): 2014-2015

This year’s president for the 176th session of the LMI received an estimated 250 visitors over the 3 hour
Liverpool Medical Institution was Mr Max McCormick. duration.
He presented a very varied and interesting programme
that included medical military history, marking the The admin team have been working with Liverpool
centenary of World War I; Whistle Blowing in the NHS; Heart and Chest Hospital to share resources for
personal insights into the Cleveland Scandal from Dr improving pathways into medicine for students
Wyatt and a thought-provoking lecture by Professor considering applying to study medicine, and widening
Vyvyan Howard. the appeal of the ‘Year 12 Conference’. The variety of
external conferences hosted during the year include
If you were unable to attend, recordings of some of this the annual LSTM Neurological Infectious Diseases
session’s lectures are available for members to view on conference, the Norman Gibbon Urology Meeting,
the LMI website at http://www.lmi.org.uk/public- popular five-day ECG training courses and regular
webcast.aspx. Essential Stroke and Neuro MRI courses, RSM’s North
West meeting, the bi-annual Final FRCA exam prep
Events course, student case presentations, Liverpool Biennial
Artists’ Talks and many more. LMI has even played host
The undoubted highlight of the year was the military to several paranormal investigation teams who
medicine exhibition organised by the library, explored the building for signs of ghostly activity.
comparing 1914 and 2014 field medicine, which was a
great success. The exhibition took place from the 2nd to Membership
4th October 2014, in partnership with 208 Liverpool
Field Hospital and in association with Liverpool Medical The LMI have negotiated with University of Liverpool
History Society. It is estimated that LMI received 800 Libraries an improvement to membership benefits
visitors over the duration of the event. 208 Field whereby walk in access to their library facilities will be
Hospital organised 8 lectures, which were all very well granted on presentation of an LMI Membership Card,
received. which members will have received in their Christmas
mailing. The LMI has also extended its links with the
Displays included Captain Noel Chavasse’s sword and Liverpool Philharmonic with access to exclusive behind-
the last letter he is known to have written, military the-scenes events for members.
uniforms and a recreated trench in the LMI car park.
Adrienne, the LMI Librarian, was successful in obtaining The Strategic Management Council has discussed
an Heritage Lottery Fund grant which enabled her to proposals to share the wealth of clinical experience and
employ a co-ordinator, train 18 volunteer guides and knowledge among the LMI’s membership by setting up
video the lectures. VIP guests included the Lord a mentoring programme directed at Year 4 and 5
Lieutenant and the High Sheriff of Merseyside. The medical students in the University of Liverpool.
event received excellent feedback via email and the Students would derive significant benefits from
visitors’ book and had strengthened links with 208 Field forming relationships with experienced clinicians.
Hospital who were very keen to work with LMI again. Anyone interested in taking part or wanting more
Members can see the photographs of the event and information on this scheme or should make themselves
hear recordings of the talks on the LMI’s website. known to the admin team.

LMI was also part of the Alder Hey Centenary People
Exhibition celebrating 100 years of Alder Hey. Alder Hey
are very interested in working with LMI on future The Strategic Management Council wish to thank all
projects and events. LMI also opened for Liverpool those who help the LMI run on a day-to-day basis. In
Light Night on the 15th May 2015, to celebrate particular this year we would like to thank Mrs Claudia
Liverpool’s medical heritage and invite members of the Harding-Mackean and Mr Terry Wardle for their efforts
public to take a fascinating tour through 250 years of with the Sixth Form Conference; Dr Tony Ellis for his
medicine. Light Night is an annual cultural event where work as Honorary Treasurer; Dr Richard Evans for his
arts places of interest open their doors until late. The role as Editor of the LMI Transactions & Report, Dr

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LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015

Andrew Larner for his work as Honorary Librarian and Metropolitan Cathedral. A link to the programme can
our regular caterers, ‘Real Food’ for their outstanding be found on the LMI website for those who missed it!
offerings.
An eight-week programme to renovate and improve
The staff of the Institution, who work tirelessly behind the Back Corridor outside the Lecture Theatre, and
the scenes ensuring meetings, lectures and conferences overhaul the windows in the Council Room and Library
run smoothly, are also much appreciated. Karen Alsop has begun over the summer. The new layout will
has joined us from Save the Family, and has worked provide a new accessible facility, ladies facilities on the
wonders improving the LMI building, planning the ground floor and a larger facility for men. We expect
various projects and since March has been keeping a this to dramatically improve the appearance and
firm hand on the LMI’s finances. Sadly, our stalwart functionality of this area for members and visitors to
Finance Officer, Jim Penwill, retired this year. We wish the building. We have made a conscious effort to
him a wonderful retirement and thank him for his years choose fittings and décor commensurate with the
of support. period in which the building was built, and we are
looking forward to seeing the finished result.
Adrienne, Sue, Joy and the many library volunteers
continue to run a most efficient library and have The Year Ahead
recently completed a complete reclassification of the
contents. They also ran the extremely popular and well- The incoming President for the 177th Session (2015-
publicised World War I event over several days that 2016) is Mr Graham Lamont, and we look forward to
attracted local and national attention. We look forward his programme of events, meanwhile Mr Derek Machin
to new interest in the LMI and collaborations as a result has been nominated for President of the 178th Session.
of this project.
Following the modest success of the initial Trainee
Managing the membership and conferences could not Programme, a new LMI Junior Doctors Committee has
be done without the administration team Audrey, been set up to to facilitate long term input from the
Lynne, Sam and Sharon. Joyce, who manages the bar, trainees and students themselves and provide a regular
wishes to retire at the end of the 2015 session. She has programme of meetings and events to interest and
worked at the LMI for over 20 years and we wish her support junior doctors and medical students.
well, and thank her for her years of service. We also Representatives from each of the Hospital Trusts have
thank Tom, who looks after the evening meetings. agreed to sit on the committee to suggest ideas for
appropriate and interesting topics and speakers. They
Last but not least, the support of members in these will then bring the message back to their own hospitals
challenging economic times is appreciated now more and grand rounds, to help LMI engage better with
than ever, and we love to see members using and junior doctors and promote these evenings. The
enjoying the building. programme will begin in August, with an evening for
the new F1 doctors about to begin their first pre-
The Building registration year.

Plans to modernize and develop the building have The next stage of material redevelopment, for which
continued this year, and it is an exciting time in the proposals have already been received from architects,
development of the LMI. The Gallery, Oak Study and involves the ground floor of the 1960s’ extension of the
Dining Room have been redecorated in tasteful LMI (the reception area and ‘Reading Room’). The brief
heritage red and are looking fantastic. The stonework is to maximise the space and flexibility the LMI can
on the Ionic colonnade at the front of the building has provide for exhibitions and events, whilst providing a
been cleaned and retouched. The Wi-Fi system has more welcoming entrance befitting the age and
been upgraded to provide a better service; members heritage of the building. Once more formal plans have
and visitors now need only register once and the system been shortlisted these concepts will be circulated to
will remember them next time. members. We hope members can join us in looking
forward to an exciting future.
The antique grandfather clock fondly known as the
‘Old Doctor’ was featured on the second of two BBC Mr Austin McCormick
Antiques Roadshow episodes filmed out of Liverpool Honorary Secretary

58







LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015

Following graduation in 1957, Joe did his house jobs Dr CHARLES STEWART McKENDRICK
at Broadgreen Hospital where he met a ward sister, Consultant Physician
Cecily Ryan, who later became his wife. On completing
his pre-registration year, he was conscripted into the Charles Stewart McKendrick
RAMC in the rank of captain and spent the next two was born in Warkworth,
years at Catterick Garrison, despite a request for a Northumbria, on 21st October
posting overseas. 1919. His father was a banker
and his mother a milliner; he
After leaving the army, he undertook training for was the first of the family,
general practice before joining a family practice in after education at the Quaker
Upton, Wirral in 1963. There he stayed until 1968 when Bootham School in York, to
he went into partnership with Margaret Baron in study medicine.
Rutherford Road, Liverpool 18, where he remained in
practice until his retirement in 1991, by which time Dr His pre-clinical training was undertaken at St. John’s
Peter Griffiths and Dr Barbara Gaze had joined him. In College, Cambridge and, bucking the custom for
addition to his family practice, Joe was, for many years, undertaking clinical training in London, he completed
medical officer for Liverpool University. An Honorary his training and graduation in medicine in Liverpool,
Life Member of Liverpool Medical Institution, he was in 1941. His activities at Cambridge were not confined
also a stalwart member of the Innominate Club. to the academic; outraged at the permission given for
a lecture at his College by Sir Oswald Mosley of the
Gifted with great clinical skills and deeply British Union of Fascists, he mustered the rugby team
compassionate, he was admired and greatly respected to bounce Mosley’s Rolls Royce into the River Cam, an
by colleagues and patients alike, many of whom endeavor apparently demanding all of their combined
attended his funeral service at Bishop Eton Church, strength.
Liverpool, in April 2015.
Shortly after completing his house jobs, he enlisted in
Joe's greatest interests, apart from his family and the Royal Army Medical Corps, and was later intimately
medicine, were music, literature, sport and travel - in involved with major battlefield surgery on the beaches
particular, being conversant in German and French, of the D-Day landings in 1944, given a scalpel and an
European travel - which he greatly enjoyed with Cecily operating tent next to the senior surgeon, and ordered
and with Sheila, his second wife. His main sporting to get on with it. He was subsequently with the 11th
interests included Everton Football Club, and Woolton Armored Division during the relief of the Bergen-
Golf Club, of which he was a past president and past Belsen concentration camp on 15th April 1945.
captain, scoring a hole-in-one during his captaincy.
Predeceased by Cecily and by his daughter, Emma, Joe He forever found the horror of finding 60,000
Lavelle is survived by Sheila, his sons, Martin and Peter, emaciated prisoners in desperate need of medical
his stepsons, Jefferson and Jonathan and by his five attention difficult to describe. Attaining the rank of
grandchildren. Major during the war, he later remained in the
Territorial Army, retiring from the reserve force as
Joseph Owen Lavelle. Born 9th November 1931. Lieutenant-Colonel.
Qualified MB ChB Liverpool 1957. General Practitioner,
Liverpool. Died 7th April 2015. Dr McKendrick became Consultant Cardiologist to the
then Regional Cardiac Centre at Sefton General
Jim Burns Hospital, and later, the father of modern cardiology in
the City. With the realisation, in the 1960s, that the
outcomes and survival of patients with acute
myocardial infarction was improved by managing their
care in specialised facilities staffed by specifically
trained and skilled staff, he set up one of the first
purpose-designed coronary care units in England.

Allied to this development, the introduction in 1960 of
coronary angiography by Mason Sones at the

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Cleveland Clinic led to the establishment of cardiac Liverpool. Died in Liverpool aged 94.
catheter laboratories in the UK. Under Charles Richard Charles
McKendrick’s foresight and leadership, Liverpool was
again in the vanguard of specialised cardiac Helen McKendrick
investigation, a development taken forward to the
highest standards of the day by Norman Coulshed, Ellis MR HUW OWEN THOMAS
Epstein and, later, Sandy Harley. Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon

His third key innovation was the introduction and Huw Owen Thomas was born
development of the cardiac pacemaker service, initially in 1941 in North Wales. He
with the cardiothoracic surgeon Ken Waddington and was an only child, born into a
general surgeon Wing Turner, evolving into an almost medical family spanning four
exclusively cardiology based service from 1976 with the generations. He had wanted
appointment of Richard Charles as his Senior Registrar. to become a vet, but as his A
Again, it was Charles McKendrick’s leadership in level results were not
establishing a secure and appropriately growing sufficiently good, he found
budget for implantable cardiac devices which catalysed himself studying medicine
the growth of this service in Liverpool into one of the instead, qualifying at the
largest implanting centres in Europe under Richard Welsh National School of
Charles, who succeeded him on his retirement from Medicine in Cardiff in 1966. After house jobs in Cardiff
clinical practice in 1981. and Rhyl, Huw returned to Liverpool where he had
been brought up.

Despite his great strength of character and leadership, His father Goronwy Thomas (President of the LMI
he also fell prey to human frailty, descending into a 1969) was a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at the
period of destructive alcoholism in the 1970s, an David Lewis Northern Hospital.
experience which he never sought to conceal. Indeed,
his eventual complete recovery and return to full Huw shared his name with Hugh Owen Thomas, the
clinical duties under the care and support of Alcoholics Anglesey bonesetter and inventor of the Thomas
Anonymous in many ways defined the rest of his life. splint, although Huw was proud to have the Welsh
He was completely committed to the 12-step (and he would say the correct) spelling. He
programme, central to which is the continuous support contributed some memorabilia of Hugh Owen Thomas
of other alcoholics, eventually becoming the national to the LMI library, which he and his father had
chairman of AA, whilst remaining faithful to his local collected. Taking up the mantle of both his namesake
group in Toxteth. He was instrumental in setting up and his father, Huw trained in orthopedic surgery in
the Sick Doctors’ Trust, of which he became a Patron. Liverpool, Gobowen and also at Wrightington Hospital
In 1950 he married Olive Bell, a Paediatrician, and they under Professor Sir John Charnley.
were both strong and generous supporters in time and
money to many charities; indeed, in later years he had He had a very close and harmonious relationship with
to be restrained from donating to every good cause his father, working at one time as a registrar on his
which came to his door. father’s firm, to the awe of many of his contemporary
trainees. Whilst undergoing postgraduate training, he
In retirement, whilst continuing active support of his was proud to serve as a Captain in the RAMC.
favored charities, he relaxed with his great love of
painting, initially in sketching and water colours, but Huw was appointed as a Consultant Orthopedic
later becoming a master of oil painting. He and his Surgeon in Wirral, and prided himself on being a
wife, Olive, his muse and indefatigable support general orthopedic surgeon in an era when super
throughout his life, were unfailingly hospitable and specialisation was becoming the norm. He left the NHS
joyful company to all visitors. He is survived by their at the age of 56 in 1997, thereafter concentrating on
four children, Jenny, Posy, Jamie and Helen. his medico-legal practice and tribunal work, retiring in
2007.
Charles McKenrick, MA, MD (Cambridge & Liverpool).
JP: Consultant Physician (Cardiology) Mossley Hill Huw’s hobbies were many. He enjoyed art,
Hospital. Consultant Physician Sefton General Hospital, architecture, steam railways, fishing and shooting. His
greatest love was classical music, about which his

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LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015

knowledge was encyclopedic. It amazed many that he At Medical School in the the early seventies, his
could hear a few bars of a piano piece on the radio and singing, impromptu performances and comic acting
would have no trouble in correctly identifying the were legendary. He was the only man in Whiston
pianist. As a student in Cardiff, Huw thought nothing Hospital’s history to take a tuba on the ward round as
of driving from Cardiff to Liverpool in his Austin Seven, a houseman. Despite being the life and soul of every
to attend a concert given by the Royal Liverpool party (usually coming in fancy dress or one of his many
Philharmonic Orchestra, only to drive back to Cardiff Victorian outfits), he never drank alcohol. Indeed, he
the same night. Indeed he had a passion for all things was probably the only Liverpool Medic rugby player
beautiful, be it in music, art or buildings, and honored who did not like it. But he did like rugby. He was the
and admired those who could produce such wonderful ‘hard man’ of the Medics team, (although not always
works. Huw was not a pub or club man, but was able to carry out the role effectively, as he would still
happiest spending his time with his family, to which he be getting up from the collapse of one scrum, when
was devoted. Sadly his last years were dogged by another was being whistled for).
several health problems, which he bore with great
fortitude. He leaves his wife Judith, also a doctor, two He went on to become a passionate rugby league
sons and a granddaughter. supporter, even playing the odd game for Huyton RLFC
– one of several teams for which he served as club
Huw Owen Thomas. Born Holywell, North Wales 11th doctor (on many occasions, it should be noted, his
May 1941. Qualified Cardiff 1966, FRCS Edinburgh name appeared on the Huyton team list, even though
1971 , FRCS England 1972, MChOrth Liverpool 1973. he was in the dug-out with the sponge. The club then
Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon Victoria Central used one of their many ‘Chris Wragg’ ringers to try
Hospital (later Wirral University Hospital NHS Trust). desperately, at least once in a season, to win a game).
Died 4th January 2015. Later, in his eight years as doctor at Scunthorpe United
FC, these wily tricks had become just a folk memory in
Judith Thomas Rugby League.

Dr CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL WRAGG He was potty about history, especially medical and
General Practitioner & Emergency Medical Doctor military history, and began to collect paraphernalia
and memorabilia even as a student. Want to borrow a
When we stepped from the top hat? Medals? Just about anything Victorian?
packed chapel to the flower Ancient text books? An apothecary’s wax seal? Pictures
display after Chris Wragg’s or photos of old scenes? Whatever – Wraggy was your
funeral, the crematorium rang man. By the time of his death last month from liver
to the sound of laughter, as cancer, (ironically), he was a member of sixteen
we swapped anecdotes about learned medical history societies, and had filled not
this iconic Yorkshireman. just every room in his house and garage, but a spare
couple of garages and a full sea-going container with
He had spent half his career in A&E – first in his E-bay purchases.
Merseyside, then in Scunthorpe – and undoubtedly the
A&E stories were the best. Singing ‘The Laughing In the early eighties, he settled in Kirton-in-Lindsey,
Policeman’ over the tannoy during the Toxteth riots; initially as a GP and subsequently working in
poling himself down a corridor on a trolley, singing Scunthorpe A&E. He bore his diabetes, blindness, and
‘Just One Cornetto’; and taking advantage of an empty final illness with his unique mix of joviality, spirituality
waiting room, (it was a long time ago), to sit and and resignation. I suppose that I should finish by saying
pretend to be a patient, then storm out, inviting the that he will be sorely missed, and of course, by those
new arrivals to follow. He even once took a time- closest to him he will. But for many, both in the
waster out to the ‘Accident & Emergency’ sign on the profession and outside, the memory of Wraggy will
door, and then said, “Have you had an accident?” ... live on in joy – even as we hope he is now doing.
“No...” “Are you an emergency?” ... “No...” “Well naff
off!” Utterly unacceptable behaviour, of course, even Christopher Michael Wragg, DTM&H 1976, DRCOG,
by those days’ standards, but this gentle, kind and DCH. Died 20th September 2014.
generous joker still felt strongly the heritage of an
uncompromising Yorkshire Methodist upbringing. Lawrence Wood

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LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015

Members Joined Since Last Transactions

Badescu, I C
Barker, T
Crowley, T S
Fraser, M
Heseltine, J
Kasbekar, S
Patterson, J (reinstated)
Rai, J

Affiliates Joined Since Last Transactions

Curtis-Summers, S
Drury, K

Offices of Distinction, Awards/Honours

Dr Elizabeth Margaret Embray Poskitt
Dr Elizabeth Poskitt, member of the LMI since 1977, helped to found the Association for the Study of Obesity,
spent some time in Africa and was a Lib Dem Councillor.

She has been elected Mayor of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, at the age of 75.

Mr Roy Farquharson
Mr Roy Farquharson is now Chair elect (2015-2017) of the European Society of Human Reproduction and
Embryology.

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LMI Transactions and Report 2014 - 2015

Liverpool Medical Institution
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet
for the Year Ended 31st December 2014

SMC regrets to announce that due to the retirement of the Finance Officer, Mr Jim Penwill, in the final quarter
of last year due to illness, the final accounts for 2014 have not yet been audited and approved, and could not
therefore be presented for adoption by the membership at the AGM in April 2015.
Members can however rest assured that the situation is in hand. Succession plans are well in place, and Mrs
Karen Alsop has been appointed by SMC as Finance Manager, in addition to her current project work for the LMI.
The accounts will be completed over the summer well in advance of the regulators’ submission deadlines.
Members present at the AGM in April agreed that the meeting be adjourned and re-convened in October 2015
to complete the presentation of accounts to the membership. We hope you can join us all then. The date of the
resumed AGM will be announced on the LMI’s programme, included with this publication.
We wish to thank Mr Penwill for his hard work, professionalism, honesty and integrity as Finance Officer during
the past 11 years, and offer congratulations on a job well done and a retirement well deserved.

A Ellis
Hon Treasurer

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