Dr William Louis Murray Bigby

Personal Details

Dr William Louis Murray Bigby

06/11/1906 to 16/02/1998

Place of birth: Wallington, Croydon

Nationality: British

CRN: 524931

Education and qualifications

General education	School not known; Guy’s Hospital Medical School
Primary medical qualification(s)	MRCS LRCP, 1928
Initial Fellowship and type	FFARCS by Election
Year of Fellowship	1954
Other qualification(s)	MBBS, London, 1930; DA(RCP&S), 1949

Professional life and career

Postgraduate career

After house surgical and resident obstetric posts at Guy’s, Dr Bigby joined a general practice in Southampton, later becoming Honorary Anaesthetist to the Royal South Hants & Southampton Hospital. During WW2 he played a major part, as Deputy MOH, in the civil defence of Southampton, work for which he was awarded the MBE in 1942. After the war he returned to his pre-war joint appointments, but with the coming of the NHS he specialised in anaesthetics, taking the DA in 1949, becoming a consultant in 1950 and retiring in 1971.

Professional interests and activities

Dr Bigby was very much involved in the St John Ambulance Association, serving for almost 50 years as a lecturer, examiner, and for a while as area commissioner. He also contributed to the administration of local hospitals and the local branch of the Mission to Seamen.

Other biographical information

Dr Bigby was a charming, always cheerful man. Predeceased by his wife, he died at the age of 91 leaving a son and daughter, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Author and Sources

Author: Robert Julian Palmer.

Sources and any other comments: Obituary. BMJ 1998; 316: 1249 written by John Mackeith, an ENT surgeon and friend. Also personal communication from Dr Douglas Pearce. A photograph can be seen at https://www.bmj.com/content/316/7139/1249