WKMCS

The 1920s…

Doctor F. A. Beattie was treasurer from 1927 to 1946 and was suceeded by Doctor F. Hudson Evans who served till 1966. As a token of respect and appreciation it was decided to institute in the centenary year a biennial lecture to be known as the ‘Hudson Evans Lecture‘ devoted to General Practitioner subjects. The first one in 1955 was by Doctor William Pickles, President of the College of General practitioners, and one of its founders.

Meetings of the Society, formed from members con­tributing to the West Kent Medical Reading Society, were originally held in local hostelries, but with the provision of a Board Room at the Kent Dispensary and the foundation of the Society, monthly meetings started in 1856. This was continued when the Dispensary became the Miller Hospital in 1885.

In 1905 lady medical practitioners of the area were proposed to be admitted as ordinary members, but this was narrowly defeated by ballot. The Jubilee Dinner in 1906 was held at the Trocadero, with ladies present, followed by a concert. By 1913 ladies again were only allowed to Social functions and it was not until 1919 that ladies were officially elected to membership, Doctor Beatrice Lovibond being the first. She became president in 1931.

A library was developed with two thousand volumes by World War II. During the upheaval many books disappeared and in 1957, one hundred years on, the remainder were offered to members, the then College of General Practitioners and others privately sold. The large bookcase was given to the British Hospital for Mothers and Babies.

Perhaps as a result of not having a permanent home the Society has lost a great deal of property. However among property in the possession of the Secretary of the day is the Ballot box bought in 1857 for £2.10.0d. Small cowrie shells have been used for balloting since the beginning of the Society. The president’s badge of Office was obtained to com­memorate the Society’s Jubilee in 1906 and in 1956 gold links were added and names of all new Presidents have been added since. Dr. M. Hudson-Evans was elected treasurer in 1966. In early days meetings were monthly and mainly were lectures, case presentations, specially invited guest speakers and a dinner. The dinner was originally in local hostelries but became more socially adapted moving to fashionable town restaurants in the late eighteen nineties. The Society has been graced by many eminent medical and non-medical speakers in its time and continues to grow from strength to strength.