Charles Anthony Rushmer

Charles Anthony Rushmer

Former general practitioner Upwell, Wisbech (b 10 July 1927; q St Mary’s Hospital, London, 1954), died from oesophageal cancer on 18 July 2002.

He went to Boxgrove Prep School, Uppingham, with a scholarship, until 1946. He spent two years of national service in the navy.

In 1948 he began his career in medicine at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London. In 1954 he commenced his first house job at Paddington General Hospital and then moved to Royal Preston Hospital. From 1955 he worked in general practice in North Walsham and Gillingham.

He moved to Upwell in 1962, where he became partner.

In his practice Tony was quiet and careful. He had a very safe pair of hands. He was precise, intellectual, and rigorous—skills he continued to apply after retirement in the crossword and his bridge club.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting his garden will recall the impact of the tranquil place that Tony and his wife, Eileen, created. With the blossom on the apple trees. The borders ablaze with colour and the lawns cut with neatness beyond belief.

Tony was a great gardener.

He was a doctor from the old school, professional, caring, taking pride in his work and looking after the whole community and doing it well. He always kept himself up to date. I have no doubt that he would have welcomed the enormous changes that computing has brought to medicine and that he would have risen to the challenges that modern medicine brings.

As senior partner Tony was supportive of any efforts that we made to extend our services. Listening to our ideas and adopting the good ones. Decisions were made democratically and we were all able to contribute under his stewardship.

Above all, though, he was a family man, devoted to his wife Eileen and his family. [Paul Millard]