The Hugh McLaren Lecture, 1991: John Lawson

Typescript of the Hugh McLaren Lecture given to the Birmingham and Midland Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society by John Lawson entitled 'The Export of British Obstetric Traditions', covering Hugh McLaren's work with the medical school in Rhodesia through sponsorship by the University of Birmingham (1960s), the appointment and success of Hugh Philpott as Sims-Black Chair in Rhodesia, Hugh McLaren's support of the Hamlin's fistula unit in Addis Ababa and as an examiner at the University of Ibadan, and the influence of British universities in new medical schools in developing countries, the benefits of strong links with leading figures in Britain to new medical schools, and the relevance of British obstetric and gynaecological methods to developing countries; together with correspondence from C A Carlew, Secretary to the Medical School, University of Zimbabwe, Dr Olive Frost FRCOG, and Professor Hugh Philpott of the University of Natal, containing their memories of working with Professor McLaren, in particular McLaren's involvement in establishing the obstetric programme for the new medical school at the University of Zimbabwe, his support in examinations held in Zimbabwe and Ethopia, and the development of the Rhodesian obstetric unit. Also included in the file is a detailed memoir from Professor Coralie Rendle-Short (August 1991) describing her experiences as a young medic in China and Hong Kong during the late 1940s, and her appointment as consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist to the new medical school at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (1951), with good details of the conditions of the maternity wards, maternity services and practice, her organisation of the service, midwifery training, record-keeping, the construction of the new Mulago Hospital (1958-1962), her own opinion of requirements for improvements in maternal mortality and morbidity, and her experiences in Ethiopia developing maternity services between 1964 and 1975.

Open to researchers by appointment, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. mailto: archives@rcog.org.uk

Catalogued by College Archivist, Penny Hutchins

Copyright is vested in the estate of John Bateman Lawson.

Reproductions are available at the discretion of the College Archivist.

Presented to the Archives by John Lawson in October 1991, along with a photograph of himself.

Related material held at the RCOG may be found at the following references:

RCOG/A5 Records of John Lawson as Vice President of the College 1987-1989

RCOG/PH1/3/22 Photograph of John Lawson

S56 Papers of Professor Hugh McLaren