6 minute read
In Memoriam: Alexander Benjamin, Charles David Richard Lightowler
Alexander Benjamin 1st June 1924 –16th December 2018 Obituary by Nick Geary
Alec Benjamin was a Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon at West Herts Hospitals from 1961 until 1984. Initially, he was on the staff of Watford General and Hemel Hempstead Hospitals, but in the early 80s he moved his sessions from Watford to St Albans, so that all three consultants at Hemel worked together at St Albans.
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He was born at home in Stoke Newington to Rachel and Joseph Benjamin and soon moved to South Morden. Alec wanted to become a doctor, but his headmaster tried to discourage him as during the war they had no Physics Master. Alec studied for his school certificate on his own, and was admitted to London Hospital Medical School where he trained from 1942 - 1946. He was awarded the Charrington Prize in Practical Anatomy and the Sir Frederick Treves Prize in Clinical Surgery.
Student life was split between London and being evacuated to Cambridge. He served in the Home Guard during the blitz. On qualifying, he worked as house physician and surgeon in paediatrics, psychiatry and orthopaedics including two years national service in the RAF. On leaving the RAF in 1949, he alternated between posts in orthopaedics and psychiatry at SHO and registrar level. Having obtained FRCS in 1953, from a Psychiatric Registrar post, he then embarked on a career in orthopaedics. He trained at RNOH, St. Mary’s and was an SR at Charing Cross. In training, he worked for some orthopaedic legends: Sir Reginald WatsonJones, Norman Capener, Carl Nissen.
He was greatly interested in rheumatoid arthritis, publishing widely and contributing to textbooks. He was a founder member of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Surgical Society, serving as secretary. The double osteotomy around the knee bears his eponymous name. Before modern joint replacement surgery, this allowed pain relief and mobility for these disabled patients. He was a founder member of the Cerebral Palsy Society and an early member of the British Orthopaedic Study Group. n
Charles David Richard Lightowler March 1936 – 26th October 2019 Obituary by Richard Pusey
Charles David Richard Lightowler – known as David – was born in Leeds in 1936 and was educated at Giggleswick School where he excelled academically and at sport, especially rugby. After National Service, he entered The London Hospital Medical School where he played rugby to county standard. He decided on a career in orthopaedics and stayed at The London for resident and registrar posts gaining his FRCS (Eng) in 1966. In addition he worked in Johannesburg which stimulated his interest in paediatric orthopaedics.
He was appointed Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon to Orsett Hospital in South Essex and also to the new Basildon Hospital when it opened in 1973. His main interests were hip and paediatric surgery and he was a strong Charnley disciple, and was one of the main instigators of hip replacement surgery in the area. He loved teaching and his enthusiasm stimulated a whole generation of junior rotating registrars to take up orthopaedics.
He was a strong supporter of the RSM and was President of the Orthopaedic Section and also of the RCS, and after retirement, was Chairman of the Senior Fellows Society. As a colleague he was delightful to work with, but of strong character and was always available for constructive advice, which was given in his brusque no nonsense Yorkshire way!
Away from work, shooting and fishing played a big part in his recreational life both in Essex and in Yorkshire and on retirement he moved back to his roots on the river Ure at West Tanfield, where he was able to host friends at the local angling club. He had a powerful bass voice and sang in the choir at Ripon Cathedral.
He is survived by his first wife Eileen, and their son and three daughters, two of whom are doctors, and his second wife Margaret. n
Orthopaedic Institute at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Oswestry, Shropshire
Wrightington Hospital
Course Venue: Hospital Conference Centre (unless otherwise stated)
Forthcoming Courses from the Orthopaedic Institute
For a wide range of delegate types: 14 May: The Human Factor in Patient Safety 18 May: Imaging of Orthopaedic Implants 5-6 June: Cadaveric MSK Interventional Course 12-13 June: MIS Spine Surgery Cadaver Lab Course 24-26 June: ORLAU Gait Course 8-9 July: Shoulder & Elbow Course for Registrar Trainees and AHPs
For delegates preparing for FRCS Examinations: 15 September: Spine Examination Course for FRCS 15-16 October: Anatomy & Surgical Exposures for FRCS 21 October: Orthotic Management of Contractures
Basic Science Viva Course – Tuesday 31st March & Wednesday 1st April 2020
FRCS (orth) Upper Limb Course – Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd April 2020
Hand & Wrist Cadaveric Trauma Course – Monday 20 & Tuesday 21 April 2020
Elbow Cadaveric Trauma Course – Thursday 14 & Friday 15 May 2020 Shoulder Ultrasound & Injection Day – Friday 5th June 2020
Basic Science Viva Course – Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd September 2020
FRCS (orth) Upper Limb Course – Thursday 24th & Friday 25th September 2020
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Further information: Jackie Richardson (Course Administrator) Telephone: +44 (0) 1257 256413 Email: upperlimb@wrightington.org.uk, or Jackie.Richardson@wwl.nhs.uk
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