Cover image for
Resource Name:
Resource Type:
External Resource
Metadata
Asset Name:
E007384 - Kessel, Lipmann (1914 - 1986)
Title:
Kessel, Lipmann (1914 - 1986)
Author:
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Identifier:
RCS: E007384
Publisher:
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publication Date:
2015-06-05
Description:
Obituary for Kessel, Lipmann (1914 - 1986), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Language:
English
Source:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Full Name:
Kessel, Lipmann
Date of Birth:
19 December 1914
Place of Birth:
South Africa
Date of Death:
5 June 1986
Occupation:
Titles/Qualifications:
MBE 1944

MC 1944

MRCS and FRCS 1947

MB BS London 1937
Details:
Lipmann Kessel was born in South Africa on 19 December 1914. He studied first at Witwatersrand University and then at St Mary's Hospital Medical School, graduating in 1937. Following resident posts in London he joined the RAMC. He volunteered for parachute duties and became surgeon in command of No 1 Parachute Surgical Team. He took part in the battle of Arnhem. He was captured but managed to escape and was at liberty in enemy occupied territory. Here he joined up with Brigadier, later General, Sir John Hackett who had been a patient of Kessel's and later recorded that he owed more than forty years of life to him. Together they escaped to allied territory. For his services Kessel was appointed MBE (military division) and awarded the Military Cross. Kessel returned to work at Mary's as a senior registrar where he was greatly influenced by Valentine Ellis, first orthopaedic surgeon to the hospital. After work as a clinical research assistant at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital he became consultant surgeon to the Fulham and St Mary Abbots Hospitals. He played a leading part in the establishment on the site of the Fulham Hospital of the new Charing Cross Cross Hospital. He was appointed director of studies and later Professor at the Institute of Orthopaedics. He wrote several important works on orthopaedic surgery - in particular on surgery of the shoulder joint. "Lippy", as he was known to his numerous friends, was loved and respected by his colleagues and by juniors for his boldness, for his informed but questioning approach and for his integrity. He held firmly to Marxist principles but never thought to impose his views on others. He developed a chronic circulatory disease requiring operative treatment. He died on 5 June 1986. Lipmann Kessel was three times married. He was survived by his wife Beryl, nee Tilley, two sons and two daughters.
Sources:
*Lancet* 1986, 2, 114 with portrait

*The Times* 17 June 1986 with portrait
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/E007000-E007999/E007300-E007399
Media Type:
Unknown