Thomas Meurig Owen
BMJ 2003; 326 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.326.7379.54/g (Published 04 January 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;326:54Data supplement
Thomas Meurig Owen
General practitioner, Papworth,Cambridge, 1950-79 (b Bangor 1918; q Guy’s Hospital, London, 1950), died from cardiac failure on 10 September 2002.
Meurig was educated at Friars School, Bangor, and, after winning a scholarship to North Wales University, he took an honours degree in electrical engineering. Having qualified at around the beginning of the second world war he was asked to put his newly acquired knowledge into the war machine and possibly nuclear physics. Not wanting to follow down that path he became registered as a conscientious objector, joining a pacifist service unit associated with Donald Soper. For the next few years he was involved with helping victims of the London Blitz and worked as a nursing theatre orderly at Guy’s Hospital.
Meurig realised that his true vocation lay in medicine and, in particular, general practice. After qualifying at Guy’s he was offered the post of physician in charge at Papworth Village Settlement, a centre for the hospital treatment and aftercare of people with tuberculosis. The practice continued to grow and alongside this he became increasingly involved in the continuing evolution of the Papworth settlement, giving unselfishly his time and energy as the emphasis changed with regard to the care of people with disabilities.
In 1970 the Haynes-Owen Charitable Trust was set up and Meurig and Ronnie (his wife) funded the building of bungalows for retired or disabled people and a surgery and flat.
Meurig was always closely involved with the development of care for the disabled and gave his time generously to this cause, sitting on many committees and working parties.
When he retired in 1979, he was able to devote more of his time to his music, boxer dogs, and his garden. He is survived by his wife, Ronnie. [David Marsden]
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