Dr Philip Trevor Northover
Personal Details
Dr Philip Trevor Northover MBChB FFARCS DA
09/01/1908 to 05/07/1989
Place of birth: Bath, Somerset, England
Nationality: British
CRN: 723940
Education and qualifications
|
General education |
Kings School, Bruton, Somerset. |
|---|---|
|
Primary medical qualification(s) |
MBChB, Edinburgh University, 1937. |
|
Initial Fellowship and type |
FFARCS by Election |
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Year of Fellowship |
1953 |
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Other qualification(s) |
DA (RCP&S),1945. |
Professional life and career
Postgraduate career
Following graduation in 1937 Dr Northover undertook his surgical house officer post at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and his house physician post at Leith Hospital in Edinburgh. Next he was an assistant physician at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for Mental Disorders. Following that, he moved back to Bath where he undertook a surgical post in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at the Royal United Hospital followed by a resident anaesthetic post.
At the commencement of WW2 he was commissioned into the RAMC initially as a Lieutenant in December 1939, later becoming a captain. He served in India and the Middle East.
After the war he initially entered into general practice but his main interest was anaesthesia of which he had apparently gained considerable experience during his time with the RAMC. He was appointed as an Honorary Anaesthetist at the Royal United Hospital, Bath and Wessex Children’s Hospital and the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases. With the advent of the NHS he became a Consultant Anaesthetist in Bath, in which post he remained until retirement in 1973.
Professional interests and activities
He was a member of the Association of Anaesthetists and a founder member of the Society of Anaesthetists of the South Western Region, serving as president for 1962-63. He was also a member of the Clinical Society of Bath and the Bath Medical Engineering Society.
The author of his obituary in the BMJ describes him as a competent and experienced anaesthetist with a cheerful, confident and sympathetic approach to his patients. He also demonstrated enthusiasm for the teaching of junior anaesthetists. His daughter recalls he would often work long hours covering all aspects of anaesthesia particularly paediatrics and he loved his job.
Other biographical information
He married in 1950 Dorothy Dix, who was a teacher of elocution and drama. According to his daughter she served with ENSA during the war. They had twins, a son Nigel and daughter Anthea born in 1954. He was a member of the Freemasons and a keen sportsman, playing golf and cricket with enthusiasm; he was also a particularly fine shot. Dr Northover and his wife Dorothy apparently were generous with their hospitality, welcoming people into their home. He passed away aged 81 in 1989, survived by Dorothy and the twins.
Author and sources
Author:
Dr Innes Simon Chadwick
Sources and comments:
Bibliographic and genealogy information accessed on line at Ancestry.com.
Obituary. British Medical Journal 1989; 299 16 September: p733 (with photograph).
GMC Medical Registers 1940 accessed on line Ancestry.com.
The Medical Directory 1940 accessed on line Ancestry.com.
The Medical Directory. Churchill London. 1968. Vol 2 p1796.
Personal telephone conversation with surviving daughter Anthea Northover October 2024.