Neville Stidolph
BMJ 2006; 333 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.333.7563.356-e (Published 10 August 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;333:356Data supplement
Neville Stidolph
Former consultant in urology and general surgery Whittington Hospital, London (b 1911; q St Mary’s Hospital, London, 1937; BA (Oxon), FRCS), d 15 November 2005.Neville Stidolph was born in Mossel Bay, South Africa, on 31 October 1911. He was educated at Grey’s School, Port Elizabeth, where he was head boy; he was also victor ludorum and in 1929 Eastern Province champion in sprinting and hurdling. He went to the University of Cape Town Medical School and in 1930 was South African champion in the 440 yard hurdles. He sailed to England in 1932 as a Rhodes Scholar at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating BA (Oxon) in 1933. He did his clinical training at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, where he won the Radcliffe Prize for pharmacology in 1934 and the Theodore Williams scholarship for pathology in 1935, graduating BM BCh in 1937. In 1938 he set sail again, this time as ship’s doctor, travelling to North America, China, and Japan.
Neville joined the Royal Air Force in August 1939; he married Betty Rhodes in 1941. He was senior medical officer at RAF Scampton in 1943 at the time of the 613 Squadron (Dam Buster) raid. He was wing commander at HQ Burma accompanying the ground troops advancing through Burma, and he flew to Bangkok in August 1945 to organise the repatriation of prisoners of war.
Having gained his FRCS in 1947, Neville was appointed consultant in urology and general surgery at Whittington Hospital, Highgate, in 1948. He created a senior registrar post for Commonwealth surgeons and welcomed Commonwealth doctors as house surgeons and registrars. He never had a waiting list: patients seen in his clinic were operated on within two weeks.
He was Penrose May tutor at the Royal College of Surgeons (England) from 1963 to 1968, establishing a structured training course for overseas surgeons taking the fellowship examinations. He was on the court of examiners of the royal college from 1968 to 1974.
On retirement from surgery he joined the panel of chairmen, Lord Chancellors Appeal Tribunals, assessing war pensions from 1977 to 1985. Throughout his life he travelled extensively with Betty and became expert in the breeding of rare pheasants. Losing Betty in November 2004, he died a year later on 15 November 2005. He is survived by his elder sister; his two sons, Chip and Paul; and four grandchildren. [Paul Stidolph]
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