Jasper Blaxland FRCS | |
|---|---|
| Born | Athelstan Jasper Blaxland 14 September 1880 |
| Died | 7 December 1963(1963-12-07) (aged 83) |
| Education | Westminster School University College Hospital |
| Years active | 1907–1946 |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Physician |
| Institutions | University College Hospital Great Ormond Street Hospital Royal National Hospital Norfolk and Norwich Hospital |
| Sub-specialties | consultantgeneral surgeon |
Athelstan Jasper Blaxland (14 September 1880 – 7 December 1963) was an English physician, beginning his career as a general practitioner inNorwich and later becoming a consultant general surgeon at theNorfolk and Norwich Hospital. He was elected as aFellow of theRoyal College of Surgeons.
During theFirst World War, he served with theRoyal Army Medical Corps on active service in France.
Blaxland was born in 1880, the only son of William Athelstan Blaxland, solicitor toLondon County Council, and was educated atWestminster School andUniversity College Hospital. After graduating, hishouse appointments were at UCH, theGreat Ormond Street Hospital, and theRoyal National Hospital, and then for more than a year at theNorfolk and Norwich Hospital.In 1907 he joined an uncle who was ingeneral practice inNorwich.[1]
In 1909, Blaxland became an assistant surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, but he went on working as a general practitioner.[1] In 1911, he moved into 29, Surrey Street, Norwich, a large Georgian property, from where his general practice was run.[2] Then came the outbreak of theFirst World War in August 1914, and in March 1915 Blaxland was commissioned into theRoyal Army Medical Corps as a temporary Captain,[3] serving mostly in France as a clearing station surgeon, treating battle casualties. After his return to Norfolk at the end of the European war, Blaxland gave up general practice, building up a practice as a consulting surgeon.[1]
In 1925, he was appointed as a full surgeon to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where in 1927Geoffrey Gillam became his house surgeon.[4] In 1930/1931 he was elected as President of the Norfolk branch of theBritish Medical Association, and he also became a Vice-President of theMedical Defence Union.[1]
He retired in 1946, when his portrait was painted by Faith K. Sage for the Hospital. This is now at theNorfolk and Norwich University Hospital[5]
In 1912, Blaxland married Marion Andrews, atHenstead,Suffolk,[6] and they had four sons, Mark, John, Gregory, and Stephen, of whom Mark died at the age of two.[7] In 1928 the Blaxlands took up residence at St Catherine's Close, All Saints Green, Norwich.[8] One son followed his father into the medical profession.[1]
Jasper Blaxland playedtennis andgolf and also enjoyed shooting. He died in 1963 in a nursing home in Norwich, and his funeral was inNorwich Cathedral. An obituary called him "unorthodox... altogether a whimsical but lovable character."[1]