John Hilary Ebbetts
BMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1338 (Published 01 June 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:1338
Data supplement
John Hilary Ebbetts
Former chiropractor London and Brighton (b Streatham 11 May 1914; q London 1942; OBE), d 9 May 2005.John Hilary Ebbetts dedicated his professional life to chiropractic manipulation. He travelled widely demonstrating the benefits of chiropractic for a range of physical symptoms, at a time when it was dismissed by the more orthodox medical world as quackery.
His childhood was spent in Sussex with his parents and sister, Dina. John went on to qualify as a doctor from Westminster Medical School, London. He worked as a medical officer in India and Africa during the second world war, and for a short time afterwards provided psychiatric counselling to London fire fighters.
His mother introduced John to chiropractic. Under her tutelage he began working from her Chelsea practice before establishing his own in Wimpole Street and in Brighton.
John’s practice was rooted in medical diagnosis. He was committed to sharing his expertise and belief in the benefits that manipulation could bring to the most debilitating symptoms. He held workshops and seminars at the Brook Hospital, London, and spoke at conventions in China, Sweden, and South America.
In 1966 he and like minded colleagues, founded the British Association of Manipulative Medicine (BAMM). John served as secretary and then president, taking an active role in the organisation and producing the monthly newsletter until 1988. In 1982 he was awarded the OBE.
John became president of the Natural Therapeutic and Osteopathic Society (NTOS) in 1983. He took a keen interest in both the professional body and the school, now known as the London School of Osteopathy.
He was one of a small band of medical practitioners who recognised the qualities of manual therapies. In his quiet but determined way he promoted both osteopathy and chiropractic. He became a link between alternative therapies and the medical profession. He championed them as an alternative to the traditional GP’s response of complete bed rest. His commitment helped both professions achieve recognition in the 1993 Bill, paving the way for state recognition of osteopathy and chiropractic. The fact that both are now considered complementary professions is due in no small part to his determined efforts.
John continued to work until he was 87, supported by his wife, Ruth, who survives him. [Christine Barlow]