Peter Hansell
BMJ 2002; 325 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7360.394 (Published 17 August 2002) Cite this as: BMJ 2002;325:394Data supplement
Peter Hansell
A pioneer in audiovisual media, whose disciples spread to many medical schools and hospitals throughout the United Kingdom and beyond
Peter Hansell, former director of audiovisual services, Westminster Hospital Medical School (b Cheltenham 1921; q Westminster Hospital 1943; FRCP, FIMI, FRPS), died from heart failure on 13 July 2002.
Educated at Christ’s Hospital School, Peter Hansell read medicine at King’s College, London, but was evacuated during the second world war, first to Glasgow and then to Birmingham, where he met his bride-to-be, also an evacuated student at King’s. He won the Hare prize in zoology, the essay prize in botany, and was awarded the first Rabbeth Scholarship. At Westminster Medical School he was awarded the Sturges prize in bacteriology and the class prize in surgery. He qualified in 1943 and married Jean the same year. After being a house physician, casualty officer, and medical registrar at Westminster, Peter was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship that took him to the United States, where he visited many university departments of medical photography. On his return he establisheddepartments of medical photography and illustration atWestminster Hospital and the Institute of Ophthalmology, to both of which he was appointed a consultant. His advice was sought by the royal medical colleges, the Ministry of Health, and many other bodies in matters relating to the use of photography and other media in the service of medicine. He trained and fostered many medical illustrators, whose skills and expertise have been invaluable to the progress and teaching of medicine.
In 1950 Peter founded the London School of Medical Photography. He served on the council of the Royal Photographic Society and was the founder chairman of the Institute of Medical and Biological Illustration. He received numerous honours and awards in this country and abroad. His junior colleagues at Westminster and Moorfields became distinguished heads of audiovisual departments throughout the United Kingdom. He himself was a prolific writer and author of eight books on medical photography and he was a contributor to many others. On retirement he moved to Bath where he and his wife could exercise their interest in dovecotes. They studied and photographed these throughout the UK and elsewhere, and published three books and many articles on this topic. Among Peter’s other interests—and they were many—were antique clocks, which he preferred to call timepieces and which he enjoyed restoring. His home ticked in more than this context! He is survived by his wife, Jean, also a doctor who shared his many interests; and by three sons, one a consultant radiologist at the Brompton Hospital. [Richard Bayliss]
See more
- Introductory AddressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 1-4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.1
- Report of the Meeting of the Eastern Branch of the Provincial Association at Bury St. Edmond'sProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 10-13; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.10
- Mr. Warburton's Bill for the Regulation of the Medical ProfessionProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 13-15; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.13
- An Atlas of Plates, illustrative of the Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine and Surgery, with descriptive LetterpressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4
- A Practical Treatise on the Diseases peculiar to Women, illustrated by Cases, &cProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4-5; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4-a