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ObituaryGERTRUDE DEARNLEY

M.D.Lond., F.R.C.O.G.

Miss Dearnley was obstetrician and gynaecologist to theRoyal Free Hospital, London, for many years. She died onMarch 14.

She was educated at Liverpool High School, and went to the thenSchool of Medicine for Women,

V

now the Royal Free HospitalSchool of Medicine, qualifying in1912. The greater part of her careerwas associated with the Royal FreeHospital, where she held a suc-

cession of appointments. Sheworked also at the Jessop Hospitalfor Women at Sheffield, the SouthLondon Hospital for Women, andthe Endell Street Military Hospital.Rapidly her skill in obstetrics andgynaecology was recognised. Shewas appointed consultant gynaeco-logical surgeon to the Royal Free and the Marie Curie Hospital andconsultant gynaecologist and obstetrician to Welwyn Garden CityCottage Hospital. As physician to the antenatal department ofQueen Charlotte’s Hospital, she was the first woman to hold aconsultant appointment at the hospital. She was a FoundationFellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in1929. She took a keen interest in the affairs of the College, servingon the examination committee in 1936-37.She was a skilled surgeon and one of the first to encourage early

postoperative ambulation. Her special interest lay in the

investigation and treatment of infertility. She established the

fertility clinic at the Royal Free, probably the first such clinic inLondon. She was a good and careful teacher of her staff andstudents. Her achievements and contributions to the hospital havebeen recognised in one of the gynaecological wards which bears hername in the new hospital.Gertie was a small neat lady with pretty red hair and a charming

smile, always carefully dressed, usually in tailor-made costumes; shewas particularly noted for her hats. She was an outstanding woman,a rare mixture of high intelligence, courage, integrity, charm,gaiety, and the love of life. She enjoyed foreign travel, visitingmedical friends, chiefly in Canada and Australia. She loved childrenand she expressed this by her care and interest in her manygodchildren, one of whom was the son of Cecil Joll. She retired fromhospital practice in 1951, but continued her busy private practicefor several years. She then lived in her country cottage where shewas able to enjoy her favourite hobbies of gardening and painting.

K. M. R.

PETER AUDAER OVEREND WILSONC.B.E., M.A., M.B. Cantab., F.R.C.P.

Dr Wilson played a great part in establishing and

improving medical services in Kuwait. He died on Dec. 11aged 63.A Yorkshireman by descent and by birth, he was educated at

Clifton, St John’s College, Cambridge, and the London Hospital.He joined the R.A.M.C. in time to take part in the D-day landings,serving both in Normandy and the Far East. Postgraduate trainingwith Paul Wood and William Evans strongly oriented him tocardiology and he achieved early consultant rank as physician to theState Hospital in Kuwait in 1953. From then on, Kuwait became hislife, and the great role he played in the development of the StateMedical Services was recognised last December by his appointmentas C.B.E.

Peter was first and foremost a very competent and careful

clinician, practising a strongly personal touch, giving

encouragement and support to patients in all walks of life. Over andabove his hospital work he was in great demand by prominentKuwaiti citizens, including the Royal Family. This involved a

heavy domiciliary practice, all carried out with his usual patience.For many years an overseas member of the British Cardiac

Society, his punctilious attendance at their meetings was

accompanied by invigorating visits to colleagues at various clinicalcentres. These visits led to his big contribution to postgraduatemedical training in Kuwait and a major role in the founding of theKuwait Medical Association and its journal.His modesty hid many abilities: to handle all sorts of machinery;

gardening; music, from classical to the latest "pop". He was agenerous friend and a natural host.

C. S. McK.

International Diary

Short course on Statistical Methods in Cancer Epidemiology, Lyon,France, July 19-23 (Head of Research Training and Liaison Programme,International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas,69372 Lyon, Cedex 8).

10th international congress of the European Association of PoisonControl Centres: Brighton, U.K., Aug. 4-6 (The Administrator, PoisonsUnit, New Cross Hospital, Avonley Road, London SE14 5ER.

World congress of International Association for the Scientific Study ofMental Retardation: Toronto, Canada, Aug. 22-26 (IASSMD, KinsmenBuilding, York University Campus, 4700 Keele Street, Downsview, OntarioM3J IP3).

lst European course in Tropical Epidemiology: Hamburg, W. Germany,Aug. 22-Sept. 3 (Dr Patrick Vaughan, Ross Institute of Tropical Hygiene,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, LondonWC1E 7HT).

8th Dutch-British Endocrine Meeting: Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands,Aug. 25-27 (Dr J. W. F. Elte, Department of Endocrinology, Building 5,University Hospital, 2333 AA Leiden, Netherlands).

8th European congress of Perinatal Medicine: Brussels, Belgium, Sept.7-10 (Congress Secretariat, Brussels International Conference Centre, Paredes Expositions, Tentoonstellingspark, B-1020, Brussels).

8th biannual Morris Hepatoma symposium: Seattle, Washington, Sept.16 (Dr W. E. Criss, Morris Hepatoma Program Director, Cancer Center,Howard University, Washington, D.C. 20060, U.S.A.).

6th international symposium on Uterine Contractility: Brussels, Sept22-24 (Dr S. Bottari, Hopital Universitaire Brugmann, Departement deGynécologie et d’Obstetrique, Place Van Gehuchten 4, B-1020 Brussels).

lst international congress on Neuroimmunology: Stresa, Italy, Sept.27-Oct. 1 (F. Spreafico, Istitito di Ricerche Farmacologiche, "Mario Negri",Via Eritrea 62, 20157 Milan, Italy).

Annual meeting of American Society of Human Genetics: Detroit,Michigan, Oct. 2 (Dr Lester Weiss, Medical Genetics and Birth DefectsCenter, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit,Michigan 48202, U.S.A.).

International symposium on Coronary Arteries in Infants andChildren: Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 17-22 (Secretariat, P.O. Box 29784, TelAviv 61297).

9th International Union Against Cancer training course in CancerResearch: Rehovot, Israel, Oct. 10-21 (Prof. Gideon Berke, Department ofCell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100).

7th annual symposium in Bloodtransfusion: Groningen, Netherlands,Oct. 21-22 (Symposium Secretariat, Red Cross Bloodbank Groningen-Drenthe, Oostersingel 59, 9713 EZ Groningen).

3rd conference of International Association of Bioinorganic Scientists onInorganic and Nutritional Aspects of Cancer and Other Diseases: LaJolla, California, Nov. 10-13 (Dr G. N. Schrauzer, Department of Chemistry.University of California, San Diego, Revelle College, La Jolla, California92093), U.S.A-).

International symposium on Paediatric Gastroenterology: Be)o

Horizonte, Brazil, Nov. 16-21 (Francisco Jose Penna, Rua dos Otom 818, BeloHorizonte, MG-CEP 30 000).