Cover image for
Resource Name:
Resource Type:
External Resource
Metadata
Asset Name:
E005297 - Read, Sir Charles David (1902 - 1957)
Title:
Read, Sir Charles David (1902 - 1957)
Author:
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Identifier:
RCS: E005297
Publisher:
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publication Date:
2014-04-28
Description:
Obituary for Read, Sir Charles David (1902 - 1957), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Language:
English
Source:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Full Name:
Read, Sir Charles David
Date of Birth:
22 December 1902
Place of Birth:
Dunedin, New Zealand
Date of Death:
21 August 1957
Titles/Qualifications:
Kt 1957

FRCS ad eundem 8 March 1951

FRCS Ed 18 December 1928

MB ChB Otago 1924

FRACS 1932

PRCOG 1955
Details:
Born on 22 December 1902 at Dunedin, New Zealand the son of J J Read, he entered the medical school of Otago University in 1920, qualifying in 1924 with the medal in clinical medicine. After holding resident appointments at Dunedin Hospital, he came to England for postgraduate study in obstetrics and gynaecology, working for several years as registrar and tutor at the Chelsea Hospital for Women, Charing Cross Hospital and Westminster Hospital. For five years he was pathologist to the Chelsea Hospital for Women, being duly appointed surgeon to that hospital. He was also surgeon to Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital and the Postgraduate Hospital, Hammersmith, becoming Director of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Postgraduate Medical School in 1950. He served as secretary and vice-president of the obstetrical division of the Royal Society of Medicine, and became President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1955. He travelled extensively and was an honorary member of the American Association of Obstetricians, Gynaecologists and Abdominal Surgeons, the American Gynaecological Society, the South African Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Athens Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society. A formidable figure, he stood six foot four inches in height. Early in his career in England he impressed Victor Bonney with his potentialities both as a surgeon and a personality. As a result he was encouraged to remain in London and become a consultant. A fine teacher and a skilful and delicate operator in spite of his large size he attracted postgraduates from all over the world. He never spared himself either in work or in relaxation, being a keen and experienced yachtsman. He, together with Terence Millin, operated and administered a very successful private clinic at 31 Queen's Gate, SW. In association with Douglas MacLeod he edited the 5th edition of Edward Lockyer's *Gynaecology* and was engaged with MacLeod on a revision of Bonney's *Textbook of Gynaecological Surgery*. He married twice, having two sons by each marriage, his second wife being Dr S Edna Wilson. While he was on holiday aboard his yacht he died aged 54 at the zenith of his career on 21 August 1957.
Sources:
*The Times* 22 August 1957 p 8 e with portrait, 3 September p 13 d by A J Espley and 24 December p 8 b Will

*Lancet* 1957, 2, 494 with portrait and appreciations by ID, AMC, DM, and others

*Brit med J* 1957, 2, 528 with portrait and appreciations by FC and JC McClure Browne, and p 771 appreciation by WR

*J Obstet Gynaec* 1957, 64, 764, with portrait and appreciations by John Stallworthy and James T Louw
Rights:
Copyright (c) The Royal College of Surgeons of England
Collection:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Format:
Obituary
Format:
Asset
Asset Path:
Root/Lives of the Fellows/E005000-E005999/E005200-E005299
Media Type:
Unknown