University of Birmingham Student (Alumni) Papers: Papers of Ernest Nigel Bolton

Primarily correspondence between Ernest Nigel Bolton's mother Mrs. E. M Bolton and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company requesting financial assistance to fund her son's education as a medical student at Birmingham University. Other papers included consist of references for E.N Bolton from his headmaster and housemaster, letters and papers relating to Birmingham University and various miscellaneous papers such as an Easter card from his mother and sister, car invoice and Medical Defence Union registration receipts.

Ernest Nigel Bolton (known as Nigel) was born 28 October 1915 in West Bromwich, the eldest of three children born to Ernest and Edith M. Bolton (nee Duckhouse). He attended the public school, Leeds Grammar School, where he excelled academically and in sport, gaining a place to study medicine at Birmingham University in 1934. However, his father Ernest, an employee of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company, died in October 1933 leaving his wife and three children to cope alone financially. Despite anticipating severe economic hardship Nigel's mother was determined to send him to university to study medicine, as was planned before the death of his father. In an attempt to be able to afford the fees she wrote many letters over a long period of time to her husband's former employers requesting financial aid for the six year course. Despite arduous negotiations with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company for an economic contribution, her pleas were unsuccessful. Regardless of this hardship, Nigel successfully completed his studies and graduated from Birmingham University as a doctor in 1940. He was offered a job with the Royal Air Force in 1942 having previously been House Surgeon at the Fairwick Emergency Hospital, Christchurch, Hampshire, and it is known that he remained in Christchurch for the rest of his life.

Source: Information extracted from the collection together with additional details supplied by the donor

The papers are arranged into the following files:

USS26/1: Correspondence - London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company

USS26/2: References and letters from Leeds Grammar School

USS26/3: Correspondence and Papers - University of Birmingham

USS26/4: Correspondence - Job applications

USS26/5: Miscellaneous papers

Open, access to all registered researchers.

Presented April 2005

Please see https://calmview.bham.ac.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=XUSS26&pos=1 for more information

Papers arranged and described by Beth Cutts, November 2016, in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; and in-house cataloguing guidelines.

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The Cadbury Research Library also holds the archives of other former staff, officials, and students