"A Fortunate Man" by John Berger & Jean Mohr (General)
by jane gould 
, Friday, February 20, 2015, 13:11 (3558 days ago)
Dear All
I've just been reading a wonderful book which is all about a GP working in the Forest during the 1960s. There are some beautiful photos of the Forest and the people who live there. The doctor's real name isn't given and the village where he practised isn't named - but I wonder if anyone knows?
Cheers, Jane Gould (descendant of the Wood family of Brain's Green)
"A Fortunate Man" by John Berger & Jean Mohr
by RogerrGriffiths , Swindon, Friday, February 20, 2015, 14:58 (3558 days ago) @ jane gould
It was first published 1967. The doctors name was Sassall or Sewell......possibly.
Added, Doctor John Sassall. No, real name Doctor John Eskell. Only place name St Briavels.
See bjgp.blog.com/tag/johnsassal Note, Link doesn't seem to work.
RN Surgeon WWII. Manic depressive. Eskell's wife ran the surgery and died in 1981. Eskell/Sassal shot himself in 1982.
"A Fortunate Man" by John Berger & Jean Mohr
by alison2 , Friday, February 20, 2015, 21:12 (3558 days ago) @ RogerrGriffiths
I remember Dr John Eskell well, he was our family Doctor when I was young. He was a very good Doctor. When he wrote the book the people of St Briavels were worried that he might have written about them in the book and at that time people were more concerned about privacy being kept than they are now.
"A Fortunate Man" by John Berger & Jean Mohr
by RogerrGriffiths , Swindon, Friday, February 20, 2015, 21:36 (3558 days ago) @ alison2
The reprinting of the book certainly seems to have attracted a lot of interest. The book is apparently well illustrated. Dr Eskell's name on Google will bring up a number of images.
"A Fortunate Man" by John Berger & Jean Mohr
by jane gould , Saturday, February 21, 2015, 11:17 (3557 days ago) @ alison2
Thanks to Alison & Roger for further updates. People were much more private in those days. But it would be interesting to know what happened to the young woman who wanted to be a secretary rather than work in the laundry!
"A Fortunate Man" by John Berger & Jean Mohr
by jane gould , Friday, February 20, 2015, 18:47 (3558 days ago) @ jane gould
Thanks for this Roger. And I have now discovered that he was called John Eskell, see more at
http://bjgpblog.com/tag/john-sassall/
"A Fortunate Man" by John Berger & Jean Mohr
by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Saturday, February 21, 2015, 15:42 (3557 days ago) @ jane gould
Thanks for bringing this book to attention Jane, sounds well-worth a read.
This well-written piece has some photos of Doctor Sassall, really sad to think he ended his own life, but can see his thinking, after losing his supportive wife early, especially with him being a doctor himself.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/07/john-sassall-country-doctor-a-fortunate-ma...
Also http://www.alancotton.co.uk/
Apparently a BBC film was made in 1967, filmed in the Dean, can't find it on Youtube but may be out there somewhere.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2349155/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt
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If you've not seen it Bill Tandy's book "Doctor in the Forest" is very enjoyable, he worked as a GP in the Western Dean for many years. His former home overlooking Parkend cricket ground is now a B&B I think..
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/fodmembers/index.php?id=29930