LOCAL HISTORY
Dr Radcliffe's special ‘prescription’ J
Most of us will associate the name Radcliffe with the local school, or the leading hospital. But do you know that they both refer to the same 17th Century Doctor? This is the story of the man John Radcliffe and how his name connects our railway town of Wolverton with the world-renowned city of Oxford...
ohn Radcliffe was born in Wakefield in 1652 – records show that he was baptised on January 23 that same year. His arrival came almost three years after the execution of King Charles I and mere months after the end of the English Civil War. Notable moments in our country's history, but John's success in life ensured that we are still talking about him today too. He was clever, and as a youngster attended Wakefield Grammar School, before swapping Wakefield for Oxford to further his studies. 32
He arrived there as a lad of just 13 years old; young even for those times. University College had strong connections with Yorkshire and his time in Oxford confirmed Radcliffe in his self-confidence and belief in the superiority of those born in that county. While attempting to sum anyone up in a few words is a tricky business, thinking of Radcliffe as a clever, direct-speaking Yorkshire man is probably close to the truth. Radcliffe excelled in many ways and graduated with a BA at 17, going on to
take his MA within two years and then, shortly afterwards, his BA and a Doctorate in medicine. He loved life at college and proved himself well-able to gain the scholarships and positions needed to fund his studies. He became the college's lecturer in logic and then, in philosophy. But, writing in 1986, Anthony Quinton, President of Trinity College in Oxford said: 'It is possible to wonder about the level of professional competence he had managed to attain in these subjects.'
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