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West Kent Medico - Chirurgical Society

Our History

The West Kent Medico-Chirurgical Society was founded in 1856 as a result of an invitation extended to doctors in the area by staff of the Royal Kent Dispensary. This was a charitable foundation of 1783 moving from The Broadway Deptford to new premises in Greenwich High Road. It became “Royal” in 1837 when Queen Victoria became its Royal Patroness.

Eighteen medical officers had to reside in the area and give free medical attention to the poor of the district, either in the dispensary or in homes.

Among the early personalities was Dr. Prior Purvis, who had been elected surgeon to the Royal Kent Dispensary in 1838.

He later became the first treasurer of the West Kent Medico-Chirurgical Society, John Sutton being the first elected President, remaining in that office till 1861. Dr. Watford-Eve was the first Secretary. The subscription then was one guinea per annum, reduced to half and only increased in 1969.

By 1899 the parishes served by the dispensary included Lewisham, Deptford, Greenwich and Woolwich. The infant medical society was therefore a legitimate “West Kent” foundation.

Prior Purvis was followed as treasurer by his son John Prior Purvis in 1897 and served until 1927. Therefore in 1895, as a token of esteem for a valued member the Society instituted the Purvis Oration. This Oration, delivered by an eminent member of the profession, has been given annually except during both world wars. The first one was given by Mr. A.E. Durham and was entitled “A Surgeon’s holiday cruise in Arctic Regions”.

Dr. F.A. Beattie was treasurer from 1927 to 1946 and was succeeded by Doctor Frederick Hudson Evans who served till 1966. As a token of respect and appreciation it was decided to institute in the centenary year a biennial lecture known as the “Hudson Evans Lecture” devoted to General Practitioner subjects. The first one in 1955 was by Dr. William Pickles, President of the College of General Practitioners, and one of its founders.

Meetings of the Society, formed from members contributing to the West Kent Medical Reading Society, were originally held in local hostelries, but with the provision of a Board Room at the Kent Dispensary and the foundation of the Society, monthly meetings started in 1856. This was continued when the Dispensary became the Miller Hospital in 1885. In early days meetings were monthly and mainly were lectures, case presentations, specially invited guest speakers and a dinner. The dinner was originally in local hostelries but became more socially adapted moving to fashionable town restaurants in the late eighteen nineties.

In early days meetings were monthly and mainly were lectures, case presentations, specially invited guest speakers and a dinner. The dinner was originally in local hostelries but became more socially adapted moving to fashionable town restaurants in the late eighteen nineties.

In 1905 lady medical practitioners of the area were proposed to be admitted as ordinary members, but this was narrowly defeated by ballot. The Jubilee Dinner in 1906 was held at the Trocadero, with ladies present, followed by a concert. By 1913 ladies again were only allowed to Social functions and it was not until 1919 that ladies were officially elected to membership, Doctor Beatrice Lovibond being the first. She became President in 1931.

A library was developed with two thousand volumes by World War Two. During the upheaval many books disappeared and in 1957, one hundred years on, the remainder were offered to members and the then College of General Practitioners, and others were privately sold. The large bookcase was given to the British Hospital for Mothers and Babies.

Perhaps as a result of not having a permanent home the Society has lost a great deal of property. However among property in possession of the Secretary of the day is the ballot box bought in 1857 for £2.10.0d. Small cowrie shells have been used for balloting since the beginning of the Society.

The President’s badge of office was obtained to commemorate the Society’s Jubilee in 1906, and in 1956 gold links were added and the names of all new Presidents have been added since.

A Centenary Dinner was held at The Society of Apothecaries in December 1955. The cost for members to attend was one guinea. The President during the Centenary Year was Dr Frank Waldron, a Public Health Physician, after whom the Waldron Health Centre in New Cross is named.

Dr. Michael Hudson Evans was elected only the 5th treasurer in the whole history of The Society in 1964, succeeding his father, and held this post for 21 years until he was succeeded by Dr. John Lee.

Since 1977, it has become a tradition that members of The Society have undertaken an annual trip, usually over a long weekend in May, to visit another part of the UK, Europe or on two occasions Asia, to learn about different aspects of medicine. Recent destinations have included Istanbul, Limerick, Barcelona, Nice, Amsterdam, The Lake District and Cairo.

The 150th Anniversary of The Society was celebrated in December 2006 at a dinner at The Royal College of Physicians, attended by 160 members of The Society and guests. The President, Dr Mary Mather, took the Chair, and the Purvis Oration entitled “Being a People’s Peer” was delivered by Baroness Ilora Findley. Mr. Robert Sewell was the only member of The Society to have attended both the 100th and the 150th anniversary dinners.

The Society has been graced by many eminent medical and non-medical speakers in its time and continues to grow from strength to strength. It currently has over 300 members who come from all branches of medicine. Meetings are held normally on the second Friday of the month from October to April inclusive.