Robinson, Mervyn Henry Bowyer (1903 - 1963)
by
 
Royal College of Surgeons of England

Asset Name
E005316 - Robinson, Mervyn Henry Bowyer (1903 - 1963)

Title
Robinson, Mervyn Henry Bowyer (1903 - 1963)

Author
Royal College of Surgeons of England

Identifier
RCS: E005316

Publisher
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England

Publication Date
2014-05-06

Subject
Medical Obituaries

Description
Obituary for Robinson, Mervyn Henry Bowyer (1903 - 1963), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Language
English

Source
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows

Full Name
Robinson, Mervyn Henry Bowyer

Date of Birth
January 1903

Place of Birth
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Date of Death
6 July 1963

Place of Death
Australia

Occupation
General surgeon
 
Orthopaedic surgeon

Titles/Qualifications
MRCS and FRCS 11 March 1937
 
MB BS Melbourne 1926
 
FRACS 1938

Details
Born in January 1903 in Melbourne the son of the Rev Thomas Robinson, he received his early education at St Paul's School, at that time associated with the Cathedral, where he was a chorister and acquired his knowledge and love of music. He then proceeded to All Saints School and Melbourne Grammar School. From the latter he obtained an exhibition in English, first-class honours in Latin and the White scholarship to Trinity College, Melbourne University. While at the University he rowed in the Eight, and after qualifying had a year's resident post at the Alfred Hospital in 1926-27 followed by a residency at the Mooroopna Hospital in 1927-28. He then worked as a ship's surgeon for a time and came to England in 1931. As this was the period of the depression, to go overseas demanded parsimonious self-denial, but on reaching England he was lucky enough to obtain a research appointment at the College, working on the parathyroid glands and being paid four guineas a week. He was one of the earliest students to live in London House, then quite new, and at the same time was able to work for the Primary. In 1932 he married, and while working for his Final was at Highgate and St Charles' Hospitals, being given the post of resident surgical officer at St Charles' after being admitted a Fellow. In 1937 he returned to Australia and in 1938 joined Dr J Gardiner and Dr H Pearce in practice in Ballarat. Soon after, he was appointed surgeon to Ballarat Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Home for the aged and infirm. He also joined the reserve of the RAAF and in 1939 served with No 3 MRS in New Guinea attaining the rank of Wing Commander. In 1945, reverting to the Reserve, he returned to practice in Ballarat where he was appointed orthopaedic surgeon to the Repatriation Department. In 1953 he was elected to the Council of the Victorian Branch of the British Medical Association, remaining on it to become finally President at the time of his death. Conscientious to a degree, he made the long journey from Ballarat to Melbourne many times a year in all weathers. In addition he acted as an examiner in surgery for the Victorian Nursing Council. He carried out good, sound surgical work in all fields, with special interest in orthopaedics in which he was a skilled operator, and he took great care in the training of his house officers and nursing staff. He was widely read with a great knowledge of history, music and the arts. An ardent member as a cellist of the Ballarat Symphony Orchestra, he served on its committee and, for a period, as its President. He died on 6 July 1963 suddenly at the annual dinner of the Victorian Branch of the BMA aged 58, survived by his wife Marie and their two sons and daughter. Publications: An antigrowth factor in parathyroids. *J Physiol* 1932, 76, 303. Tetanus-case of serological interest *Med J Aust* 1942, 1, 381.

Sources
*Med J Aust* 1963,2, 122 notice of death, 1964, 1, 20-22 memoir by G R Davidson with portrait and appreciations by Geoffrey Pern and Keith Mackay

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/E005300-E005399

URL for File
377499

Media Type
Unknown