Dr Donald Varley Bateman

Personal Details

Dr Donald Varley Bateman MB BChir MA FFARCS DA 

Known as: 

11/06/1917 to 20/08/1999

Place of birth: Colne, Lancashire, England

Nationality: British

CRN: 493101

Education and qualifications

 

Professional life and career

Postgraduate career

Donald was born in Colne in Lancashire in 1917. His father, a grocer died in 1920 when Donald was 3 years old. After attending school in York he qualified from Cambridge and the London Hospital in 1941. He undertook his initial House Surgeon and Physician posts in the Emergency Medical Service in London, followed by a short resident anaesthesia post at the London Hospital in 1942. Donald’s interest in anaesthesia was apparently ignited when he was often invited to start  anaesthesia for the surgical list whilst waiting for the anaesthetist to arrive. During the war years he entered the RAMC as an anaesthetist in 1942 serving in Europe and Kenya, gaining the rank of Major. Further training and posts were undertaken at the London in 1947 -49 and he was then appointed as consultant at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Epping and finally later at St. Mark’s Hospital in London in 1950, where he remained until retirement.  

Professional interests and activities

During his career Donald chaired the BMA West Essex Division in 1962, the Medical Advisory Committee Harlow HMC from 1963 to 1964. He was also secretary of the St. Marks Association and was president of the hospital’s social club. He published a paper in 1963 entitled “ A philosophy of anaesthesia” which characterised his thinking of an anaesthetist as a philosopher as well as a good doctor. He also was a proof reader for the Anaesthesia Journal for several years. In 1982 he was awarded the AAGBI Pask Award for services to Anaesthesia.

Other biographical information

Donald was talented with DIY which was reflected in his immaculate house and garden. He also had interests in cinemaphotography. Unfortunately an accident resulted in the loss of his lower leg. Despite this and the spinal osteoporosis that affected him in later life apparently he would regularly be seen charging around Epping in his motorised invalid vehicle. He passed away in August 1999, leaving his wife Jane and three children.

Author and sources

Author: Innes Simon Chadwick

Sources and comments: 

Information obtained from Donald’s self submitted college biographical  “Boulton Form” dated 1988.
Obituary BMJ. 2000 Vol 220 p 718  https://www.bmj.com/content/320/7236/718
Bibliographic information  confirmed via Ancestry.com accessed Jan 2022
GMC Register 1942 viewed on line via Ancestry.com accessed  Jan 2022