The development of Plastic Surgery in the West Midlands Region

Arthur Rainsford Mowlem (1902–1986), plastic surgeon

“…Balham was part of a larger commitment and development of the specialty between 1933 and 1939 and therefore meant the ‘big four’ worked at many hospitals. Mowlem was plastic surgeon to the City of Birmingham, Selly Oak Hospital from 1938 to 1948 35 and Assistant Medical Officer in charge of the plastic surgery unit at the London County Council St Charles Hospital, Ladbrooke Grove from 1933 to 1939, Assistant Plastic Surgeon at St Andrew’s Hospital Dollis Hill from 1937 to 1939 12,13 and in 1939–1940 he was appointed to the staff of the Middlesex Hospital in London. 9 From 1936 to retirement, his professional private practice address was 149 Harley Street.…”

“…John Barron (1911–1991) and Oliver Mansfield (1912–1997) succeeded Rank as Mowlem’s permanent assistants. 45 Links with Birmingham Accident Hospital and with his colleague from Balham, William Gissane, were fostered 35 with Mowlem, an early proponent of alternative strip homograft/autograft for treating large burns. 30 Between 1942 and 1946, the artist Diana Evelyn (‘Dickie’) Orpen/Olivier (1914–2008) (daughter of Sir William Orpen (1878–1931), World War I artist), illustrated the Hill End work, often allowed barely 15 seconds to view a stage in the operation 46 (Figure 3).…”