Finn, Allan Rigden (1879 - 1971)
by
 
Royal College of Surgeons of England

Asset Name
E005728 - Finn, Allan Rigden (1879 - 1971)

Title
Finn, Allan Rigden (1879 - 1971)

Author
Royal College of Surgeons of England

Identifier
RCS: E005728

Publisher
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England

Publication Date
2014-07-25

Subject
Medical Obituaries

Description
Obituary for Finn, Allan Rigden (1879 - 1971), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Language
English

Source
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows

Full Name
Finn, Allan Rigden

Date of Birth
23 June 1879

Date of Death
13 May 1971

Occupation
General surgeon

Titles/Qualifications
MRCS 1904
 
FRCS 1912
 
MB BS London 1905
 
LRCP 1904

Details
Allan Rigden Finn was born on 23 June 1879. His father William George Finn was a prosperous farmer who resided at Grove House, Faversham, Kent; he and his wife, Ellen Ann Finn had a family of thirteen children, six boys and seven girls, of whom Allan was the youngest boy. He was educated at King's School, Canterbury, and on 2 October 1899 entered the St Mary's Hospital Medical School where he was a diligent student, qualifying MRCS LRCP in 1904 and MB BS London in 1905. Later he gained the MD London in 1907 and the FRCS England in 1912. He was contemporary with Fleming, Pannett, Zachary Cope, Kettle and Wilson (Lord Moran). He also took an opportunity of making a voyage to the East, acting as ship's medical officer in a P and O liner, and this experience was one which he much enjoyed. When the first world war broke out Finn joined up and served for the duration with a field ambulance being present with the prolonged battle of Ypres and the terrible battle of the Somme. After the war he practised for a time in south west London, but in 1923 he joined the practice of Dr Simmons near Newbury. Here he soon did most of the general surgery at the Newbury District Hospital and the Sandleford Hospital, but he relinquished these posts when the National Health Service was introduced in 1948. He retired from practice in 1956. Finn was fond of horse racing and was doctor to the Newbury race course for thirty years. Allan Finn was married twice; in 1913 he married Jeanie Bates by whom he had two sons and two daughters. His first wife died in 1927; in 1933 he married Helen de Spiganovicz by whom he had one daughter. His second wife died in 1970 and Allan Finn himself died on 13 May 1971 aged ninety one years and ten months. He is survived by two daughters, one step-daughter and by five grandchildren. Allan Finn was a well-trained and experienced general surgeon. He was a modest man and sometimes tended to under-rate his own ability. He was fond of reading and had a good collection of books. He had a kindly manner, a fine sense of humour and never forgot old friends. At the time of his death he was the senior member of the Sancta Maria Lodge of Freemasons.

Sources
Information from Sir Zachary Cope, FRCS

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/E005700-E005799

URL for File
377911

Media Type
Unknown