Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Bill TANDY, Forest GP

Bill TANDY, Forest GP (reply)

Susan Barrett — Thu, 18 May 2017 13:12:22 +0000

My great-aunt, Margaret Jones (nee Stay), was a friend of Bill and Molly Tandy when they lived and worked in India. I am doing some research on her life and the time she spent working with Gandhi and on her own projects in India. I have a number of her letters and notebooks and a book by Mary Barr called Bapu in which she is featured. I have ordered Bill Tandy's book as I believe she may be mentioned in it (it hasn't arrived yet).

David Tandy, if you are still on this forum I would love to talk to you to see if you have any further information.

Susan Barrett

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

Cariad66 — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 17:19:21 +0000

Not sure if anyone is still following this thread but I have purchased in a charity shop, Mary Sumption's ration book. I find it all so charming. I only bought it because my partner is from Blackwood and thought he might like to see it. Feel free to contact me if you would like to have a picture.

Bill TANDY, Forest GP (reply)

unknown — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 19:07:07 +0000

Bill Tandy was my uncle and unfortunateley attended his funeral some thirty years ago. I have one of his books that he wrote which I should really find the time to read !

I have many memories of Bill, especially some of his medical jokes which my late mother found to be rather vulgar ! He was a most amusing gentleman and I always looked forward to our family visits where he and my Aunt Molly lived in Coleford.

With kind regards.

David Tandy

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

unknown — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:05:25 +0000

Hi there,
My name is Parnell Beauchamp Im Anthony Carlyon Sumptions granddaughter, to his son Gordon Harding Sumption. I dont know my fathers side very well it is great to be able to learn of all of these connections out there. More information or even questions would welcomed whole-heartedly!

Quabbs House Drybrook (reply)

slowhands — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 08:34:35 +0000

Quabbs House. Quabbs Road. Drybrook. Gloucestershire. GL17 9JD
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&rlz=1T4ADBF_en-GBGB310GB310&q=GL17+9JD&...

Drybrook, a village north of Cinderford, grew up at a crossing of Dry brook by an old route from Mitcheldean to Ruardean, (fn. 49) called Morse Lane west of the village

On the south-west side of the village Quabbs House (formerly the Quabbs) belonged to Ruardean and in 1847 was the residence of the mine owner Cornelius Brain.

From: 'Forest of Dean: Settlement', A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 5: Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, The Forest of Dean (1996), pp. 300-325. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23266 Date accessed: 24 January 2011.

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

muriel thornton — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 17:05:38 +0000

Thank you for your messages. I am very interested in local history, especially when it relates to my family. I believe that a lot of my uncle's patients were miners, and often could not afford to pay medical bills, (according to what my father told me) my uncle would be paid in 'kind' e.g. a dozen eggs,or a jar of homemade jam etc.,
I expect now Drybrook, along with lots of places, will have changed beyond recognition,and has probably been taken over by tourism.

Muriel Thornton.

Dorothy CLARKSON 1900 - 1941 Sculcoates YRK (?) (reply)

slowhands — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:37:41 +0000

1901
William Clarkson abt 1855 Wykeham, Yorkshire, England Head Sculcoates, Yorkshire
Kate Clarkson abt 1862 Scarborough, Yorkshire, England Wife Sculcoates, Yorkshire
William E Clarkson abt 1886 Hull, Yorkshire, England Son Sculcoates, Yorkshire
Bertram Clarkson abt 1889 Hull, Yorkshire, England Son Sculcoates, Yorkshire
Kate Clarkson abt 1893 Hull, Yorkshire, England Daughter Sculcoates, Yorkshire
Dorothy Clarkson abt 1900 Hull, Yorkshire, England Daughter Sculcoates, Yorkshire

1911
CLARKSON WILLIAM M 1855 56 Sculcoates Yorkshire East Riding (with York)
CLARKSON KATE F 1862 49 Sculcoates Yorkshire East Riding (with York)
CLARKSON DOROTHY F 1901 10 Sculcoates Yorkshire East Riding (with York)
CLARKSON DORIS F 1905 6 Sculcoates Yorkshire East Riding (with York)
CLARKSON KATE F 1893 18 Sculcoates Yorkshire East Riding (with York)
HOUSEHOLD CLARKSON WILLIAM CRAVE M 1886 25 Sculcoates Yorkshire East Riding (with York)

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

maggiewoohoo — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:30:38 +0000

Thankyou for the interesting info.I am Muriel's daughter and am researching alongside.Would yoy have any idea where Helen,Harold's second wife was born?
Maggie

Helen SUMPTION nee FAIRGRIEVE 1905 - 1993 (reply)

slowhands — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:05:49 +0000

Name: Helen Fairgrieve
Year of Registration: 1905
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Newcastle Upon Tyne
County: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear
Volume: 10b
Page: 36

Name: Helen Sumption
Birth Date: 21 Jan 1905
Death Registration Month/Year: Dec 1993
Age at death (estimated): 88
Registration district: Cheltenham
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Register number: A42D
District and Subdistrict: 4791A
Entry number: 213

<><><> possible family

Name: Alexander Edmund Fairgrieve
Year of Registration: 1871
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Plymouth
County: Devon
Volume: 5b
Page: 281

1871 Kingston On Thames
Alexander Fairgrieve 35 Wombwells Menagerie - Touring in caravans on Cricket Pitch !
Harriet Fairgrieve 35
Alexander E Fairgrieve 3 Months
Eleanor Anderson 50
John Rudd 25
Harry Sopham 25
Annie Sopham 29
Elizabeth W Sopham 1
John Blight 71
Emma Blight 42

The Elephant Who Walked to Manchester

ISBN Number: 0 946873 96 8
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 66
Publication Date: August 1988
Publisher: Basset Publications

Alexander Fairgrieve's famous travelling menagerie - 'Wombwell's Royal Number One' - was to close in 1872.
All of the animals were to be sold by auction in Edinburgh.

http://www.circushistory.org/Frost/Frost17.htm

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/forgottenfutures/pets/pets.htm

1881 Burnshot Park Glenview House Colinton Midlothian
Alexander Fairgrieve 45
Harriet Fairgrieve 45
Maggie M E Fairgrieve 16
Isabella A Fairgrieve 13
Alexander E Fairgrieve 10
Mary E Fairgrieve 4
Mary Cunningham 17

1891 High Colinton Glenview Colinton Midlothian
Alexr Fairgrieve 55
Harriet Fairgrieve 55
Clara A Fairgrieve 27
Alexr E Fairgrieve 2
Mary E Fairgrieve 14
Edward H A Bostock 8
Mary Grieve 22

Name: Alexander Edmund Fairgrieve
Name: Margaret Maskery
Year of Registration: 1899
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Leek
County: Staffordshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 487

Name: Margaret Evelyn Fairgrieve
Year of Registration: 1900
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Leeds (1837-1929)
County: Yorkshire - West Riding
Volume: 9b
Page: 560

1901
Alexander E Fairgrieve abt 1871 Plymouth, Devon, England Head Jesmond, Northumberland
Margaret Fairgrieve abt 1868 Leek, Staffordshire, England Wife Jesmond, Northumberland
Margaret E Fairgrieve abt 1900 Leeds, Yorkshire, England Daughter Jesmond, Northumberland
Sarah Ann Randell abt 1877 Leek, Staffordshire, England Servant Jesmond, Northumberland

Name: Alexander E Fairgrieve
Death Registration Month/Year: 1953
Age at death (estimated): 82
Registration district: West Hartlepool
Inferred County: Durham
Volume: 1a
Page: 1210

Name: Margaret Elizabeth Fairgrieve
Birth Date: 18 Jul 1900
Death Registration Month/Year: Jun 1989
Age at death (estimated): 88
Registration district: Cheltenham
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 22
Page: 1429

Dr Harold Harding & Helen SUMPTION Drybrook (reply)

slowhands — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 14:44:53 +0000

then moved to a flat in Lansdown Road in Cheltenham.

That appears to tie in with earlier research

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

Lefram — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 14:02:09 +0000

Just a few more pieces of information. When the National Health was formed in 1948 Dr Sumption was required to work for another 10 years to achieve some criteria set down by the government. He retired in 1958 and the practice was taken over by Dr Arthur Hooper. Arthur and Pat Hooper moved into Quabbs House and Harold and Helen Sumption moved to Laburnum Cottage in the Morse Lane Drybrook, at the junction with Quabbs Road/Lane. Dr Cyril Nicholson joined the practice around 1961/2 and he and his wife Betty moved into Laburnum Cottage at that time. It is thought that Harold and Helen Sumption and Helen's sister Miss Fairgrieve then moved to a flat in Lansdown Road in Cheltenham.

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

Lefram — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 12:16:31 +0000

Harold Sumption was GP in Drybrook until the late 50s. His second wife Helen had the chemist shop built, which was then on Drybrook Cross,and she was the pharmacist. Helen's sister, who never married, also lived in Quabbs Road, in a bungalow, which was built for her. Dr Arthur Hooper took over the GP practice when Dr Sumption retired and lived in Quabbs House with the surgery remaining on the side. The back of Quabbs House had two flats lived in by local families and the back garden housed a tennis court which Dr Sumption turned into a bowling green. No help in your research, Muriel, but a bit of local history!

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

muriel thornton — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:09:38 +0000

Thank you for your helpful info. His first wife Dorothy, who was my blood relation, died in 1941,and he remarried someone called Helen fairgrieve, in 1944, this is when I seem to have lost track of him. By what you say it seems as if he carried on living in Drybrook until he retired. I am wondering where he resided after retiring.

I know that he died when on holiday in Weston-super-Mare aged about 80, but where he was living at the time I do not know.

My grandmother (Dorothy's mother) used to keep in touch with him until she died in l948, but she never discussed these things(at least not with me). My brother kept in
touch with my Cousin Anthony (Dorothy and Harold's son)who lived in New Zealand occasionally, but he never discussed his stepmother or his father. Anthony died a couple of years ago, so the trail seems to have come to a full stop, for the moment anyway.

Kind regards,
Muriel Thornton

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

Brian Meek — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:59:45 +0000

I well remember Dr Sumption. His surgery was attached to the house in Quabbs Lane, Drybrook. This was in the 1940's and I'm sure, the early 50's. I'm think he retired when Dr Hopper arrived in Drybrook and took over the practice. I know that Dr Hopper was there in about 1958, if not before.
Dr Hopper was definitely living in the house in 1960

The main house in Quabbs Lane was accessed through a pair of double gates, and the surgery was through a side gate located at the side of the double gates. At the front of the house was a tarmac driveway with very big garden, laid out as lawns and rose borders, with a brook at the bottom. On three sides of the garden was a high stone wall.

The front door to the house was large and heavy. Inside was a large entrance hall with an ornate wide staircase.

I think that Dr Sumption covered the Drybrook and possibly Ruardean Hill areas and Dr Tandy covered Cinderford and Dilke Hospital.
Ruardean was I believe covered by Drs Rocyn-Jones. They were an husband and wife team.
Hope this helps to fill in some of the gaps.

Brian

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

cmfenton — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:07:38 +0000

Dr Sumption certainly served the Drybrook area. My mother, who grew up on Ruardean Hill, often talked of him and that would cover the 1930's - 40's.

I expect there are other users of this site who will have more personal memories!

-Colin

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook (reply)

dink999 — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:21:56 +0000

If you go to the Inquests link and search for him in the Attendees section you should find records of 31 inquests that he was involved with between 1925 and 1932

http://www.forest-of-dean.net/inquests/

Dr. Harold Harding SUMPTION 1893 - 1974 (reply)

slowhands — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:05:51 +0000

any information, as I don't seem to be
getting anywhere.

Name: Harold Harding Sumption
Year of Registration: 1894
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Bedwelty
County: Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 132

1901 High St
James Sumption abt 1852 Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales Head Bedwellty, Monmouthshire Chemist
Mary Ann Sumption abt 1852 Polgortt, Cornwall, England Wife Bedwellty, Monmouthshire
Mary E Sumption J abt 1876 Dowlais, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter Bedwellty, Monmouthshire
William C Sumption abt 1880 Blackwood, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Bedwellty, Monmouthshire
Bessie Sumption abt 1886 Blackwood, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Bedwellty, Monmouthshire
Frank Sumption abt 1888 Blackwood, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Bedwellty, Monmouthshire
Arthur Sumption abt 1891 Blackwood, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Bedwellty, Monmouthshire
Harrold Sumption abt 1894 Blackwood, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Bedwellty, Monmouthshire
Gladys Sumption abt 1897 Blackwood, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Bedwellty, Monmouthshire

1911
SUMPTION JAMES M 1852 59 Bedwellty Monmouthshire
SUMPTION MARY ANN F 1853 58 Bedwellty Monmouthshire
SUMPTION BESSIE EDITH F 1885 26 Bedwellty Monmouthshire
SUMPTION ELLEN MAUD F 1883 28 Bedwellty Monmouthshire
SUMPTION FRANCIS BENNETTS M 1888 23 Bedwellty Monmouthshire
SUMPTION GLADYS MABEL F 1897 14 Bedwellty Monmouthshire
SUMPTION KATHLEEN F 1906 5 Bedwellty Monmouthshire
SUMPTION HARROLD HARDING M 1894 17 Bedwellty Monmouthshire

Name: Harold H Sumption
Spouse : Dorothy Clarkson
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1926
Registration district: Sculcoates
Registration county (inferred): Yorkshire - East Riding
Volume Number: 9d
Page Number: 376

Off Spring
Peter Sumption Jan Feb Mar 1927 Westbury S Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire
Anthony C Sumption Oct Nov Dec 1929 Gloucester Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire

Year: 1927
Month: Feb
Day: 19
Surname: SUMPTION
Forenames: Peter
Residence: Drybrook
Age_at_death: 3 hours
Officiating_Minister: W M Bellamy Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/14
Page_No: 153
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

1925 phone Directory

H H SUMPTION, Physician and Surgeon
The School Hse
" Drybrook 9"

1932 phone Directory

H H SUMPTION, Physician and Surgeon
The Quabbs
" Drybrook 39"

1937 phone Directory

H H SUMPTION, Physician and Surgeon
The Quabbs
" Drybrook 239"

Anthony Sumption
Age 27
Born 28 Aug 1929
UK arrival 22 Oct 1956
From Wellington, New Zealand
Port Southampton, England

In 1935 Dr H H Sumption was the attending doctor to Joseph Hale. http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=10381

Name: Dorothy Sumption
Death Registration Month/Year: 1941
Age at death (estimated): 41
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 356

Name: Harold H Sumption
Spouse : Helen Fairgrieve
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1944
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Registration county (inferred): Gloucestershire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 708

SUMPTION Harold Harding
FAIRGRIEVE Helen
Forest of Dean Cinderford St John the Evangelist
1944
Reg 5
Entry 83

Name: Harold Harding Sumption
Birth Date: 31 Dec 1893
Death Registration Month/Year: 1974
Registration district: Weston-Super-Mare
Inferred County: Somerset, Avon
Volume: 22
Page: 1319

probable :-
Name: Helen Sumption
Birth Date: 21 Jan 1905
Death Registration Month/Year: Dec 1993
Age at death (estimated): 88
Registration district: Cheltenham
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Register number: A42D
District and Subdistrict: 4791A
Entry number: 213

Bill TANDY GP in the Forest (reply)

slowhands — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:00:51 +0000

Bill Tandy was certainly in a GP in the 1940's - 1960's, He studied at Birmingham Uni Medical School, qualified as an FRCS, practiced for a few years before working in India with his wife Molly. On his return he took up practice in the Forest

The situation that Barbara Bruce found at the hospital in Itarsi was far from ideal. Tensions had developed between the traditional view of the Christian mission in India (articulated by Edith Bevan) and more radical and egalitarian ideas about living and working with Indian people, held by Drs Bill and Molly Tandy, and Dr Herbert Fischer (Lucille's husband). Bill Tandy, with the aid of a dispensary van funded by the Cadbury family, took the work of the hospital out into the surrounding villages. He also visited Gandhi in 1937, at his ashram in Sevagram, to discuss how issues of caste, custom and prejudice were affecting the operation of the hospital. There he met Herbert Fischer and Jogneshwar Gogoi, who were both persuaded to move to Itarsi where they began a series of co-operative ventures in the local community. George Jones, whose wife Margaret became a close friend of Barbara, arrived in India from Spain in 1938 and worked exhaustively with the Gond people, an aboriginal tribe who lived in the jungle and were considered outside the Hindu caste system.

http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/genesis/hub/$-browse-record.cfm?recordID=10&dcID=bath.ge...

A DOCTOR IN THE FOREST Bill Tandy

Dr Bill Tandy's hilarious chronicle of almost forty years as GP/Surgeon to the Forest people.

ISBN : 0950592617
Title : A Doctor in the Forest
EAN : 9780950592619
Authors : Bill Tandy
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher : Douglas McLean
Publication Date : 1978-08

THE EVER ROLLING STREAM Bill Tandy

The sequel to A Doctor in the Forest, Dr Bill Tandy recalls his early medical student days in the 1920's, of the challenging years practising in India, where he met Ghandi, and of his return to settle as GP/Surgeon in the Forest of Dean.

Edale House
Folly Road, Parkend, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England

Built in 1850, this elegant Georgian house, overlooking the cricket green in the charming village of Parkend, invites you to relax and unwind at the heart of the Royal Forest of Dean. Once the home of Bill Tandy, author of 'A Doctor in the Forest', the house has been tastefully restored to provide a comfortable haven in an area of outstanding natural beauty and history. Edale House is ideally located for a country break; adjacent to the RSPB Nagshead bird reserve and accessible to the many miles of cycle paths within the Forest of Dean.

Harold Harding SUMPTION GP Drybrook

muriel thornton — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:08:07 +0000

I had an uncle called Harold Harding Sumption who lived at Quabbs House, Quabbs Lane.
Drybrook about the 1930 1940 era. He was a GP, but I don't think he practised in Drybrook- I rather think he practised in Cinderford, and I believe he had a partner called Dr. Tandy.
I would be pleased if you could supply me with any information, as I don't seem to be
getting anywhere.

Kind regards
Muriel Thornton