DEATH OF DR. W. B. HEYWOOD

HIS MANY PUBLIC SERVICES

We regret to announce the death of Dr. W.B. Heywood, which took place yesterday (Wednesday) morning, at the Newbury District Hospital.  Dr. Heywood was in practice in Newbury for some years.  He was away from the town from the war period until 1931, and has since devoted his life to public work.

William Benjamin Heywood was born in 1871, being the son of the late Benjamin Arthur Heywood, of Beckenham, a solicitor.  He was educated at Wellington and Emmanuel, Cambridge.  He qualified in medicine at London Hospital, his degrees including M.D., M.B., B.Ch, and he was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians.

After qualifying he joined the Church Missionary Society and went out to India as a medical missionary.  He was on the frontier at Dera Isnail Khan for some years.  Whilst there he lost the sight of an eye through an accident with a Fives ball.

Returning to England, Dr. Heywood came to Newbury in 1905, when he purchased the practice of the late Dr. Humphrey Palmer.  He first lived in Shefford House, which was between Adnams’ Brewery and the Chequers Hotel, and has now been absorbed into the hotel premises.  Late he lived in Newtown-road until he built Cornermead in the St. John’s-road.

It was not until 1915 that he was released from civil practice to join the R.A.M.C.  He served in the theatres of war in Italy and in France, being surgical specialist at the No. 3 Station Hospital, B.E.F.

After demobilisation he took an appointment under the Ministry of Pensions at Bristol.  He remained at Bristol for ten years until he reached retiring age in 1929, when he was recalled to the Ministry in London for another two years.

Dr. Heywood returned to Newbury in 1931 and since then his whole time has been devoted to public service.  Perhaps his three greatest interests have been the Newbury District Hospital, The Newbury and District Nursing Association and the Newbury Dispensary, to each of which he gave the benefit of his wide knowledge.  But his work for the hospital dated back to before the last war, for despite a busy practice he took on the duties of honorary secretary of the hospital from 1910 to 1912.

Upon his retirement from active work he renewed his interest and his services during the past eleven years have been invaluable and much appreciated by the medical and nursing staff, by the committee and the patients.  He re-joined the committee immediately upon his return to Newbury, and upon the death of the late Mr. Malcolm Aird, he was prevailed upon by his fellow members to take the chairmanship.  Dr. Heywood has seen the hospital grow from little more than a cottage hospital to one with accommodation for 130 beds, and with its extended sphere of usefulness he has not spared himself but has redoubled is efforts on its behalf.

He was honorary treasurer of the Newbury and District Nursing Association for many years, and at the Newbury Dispensary meetings he was usually in the chair and gave it his active interest.

In addition to all this honorary work, he approached to serve on the Newbury Town Council and was elected a member in January, 1933, only retiring last November owing to ill-health.  Although a man of few words his worth was soon discovered by the members, and he was elected chairman of the Public Library and Museum Committee.  To the work of this committee he brought a scholarly outlook.  Other important committees of the Council on which he served were the Housing and Public Health, the Maternity and Child Welfare, the Rating and Valuation, the Water and the Isolation Hospital Joint Committee.  He was also the Council’s representative on the West Berks United Districts Committee.

How fully occupied his time was can be realised when, in addition to all the public work already mentioned, it is recorded that he served on the Royal Berkshire and Associated Hospitals Contributory Scheme Committee, the local Medical War Committee and the Regional and Divisional Hospitals Council.  He never undertook any duties lightly, but carried them through conscientiously.

Before the last war he was Borough Coroner for Newbury for a short time.  A work dear to his heart was that carried on by the Society of the Preservation of Rural England, and he was honorary secretary of the local branch when it was really functioning.

To some who did not know him intimately, Dr. Heywood may have appeared as rather “stand-offish” but when you really came to know him you found he was a man of the widest sympathies.  He rarely spoke much at meetings, but his advice was always sound.  He was a clear thinker, and in matters of public finance he was always to be depended upon.  His death will be a great loss to the town and district.

In 1908 Dr. Heywood married Audrey, fourth daughter of the late Rev. J.G. Gibbs, formerly vicar of St. Mary’s, Speenhamland and afterwards rector of Moulsford.  The deepest sympathy is felt for Mrs. Heywood and their only daughter, who is in the Colonial nursing service.

At Dr. Heywood’s own request the funeral will be quite private.

Also:   Dr. & Mrs. Heywood had one child, a daughter, named Audrey M born 1913.  He was first a lieutenant and then Captain in the R.A.M.C. and he was awarded the Victory and British Medals.  His estate was valued at £5,826 10s. 11d.

NWN 14/01/1943

Mrs P p. 90 N CH (K) 9

B. 23/05/1871

b. 13/01/1943

Buried 04/02/1943

Book 1917 p. 243 No. 11543

THE LATE DR. W. B. HEYWOOD

AN APPRECIATION

By the death of Dr. Heywood, the town has lost one of its finest citizens, and I, personally, have lost a close friend of nearly forty years standing.  Though circumstances had kept us apart of late, there was no one whose friendship I valued more greatly, whose character I esteemed more highly.  Of his service to the borough on the Council, and particularly on the commit of the Free Library, the educational welfare of which was very near to his heart, others can speak more adequately than I.

For his work for the District Hospital, there are thousands who will bless his name, and the record of it is written in letters of brick and stone which all men may read.  A man of few words, but of wise counsel in all things, a skilled and kindly physician, a man of unswerving rectitude, of unselfish devotion to duty, of allegiance to the highest things of our human nature, with complete lack of pretentiousness and deep hatred of publicity, he has left behind a great example.  Such men in their quiet unassuming way are the salt of the earth. – E.S.S.

NWN 21/01/1943