This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/18/stella-ambache-obituary
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Stella Ambache obituary | Stella Ambache obituary |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| On 5 July 1948 a young woman’s fledgling enterprise was nationalised. It suited her well: her business was a general practice in Chislehurst, Kent, which became part of the newly established National Health Service. Through thick (paperwork and reorganisations) and thin (resources), Dr Stella Ambache was a lifelong champion of the NHS. | On 5 July 1948 a young woman’s fledgling enterprise was nationalised. It suited her well: her business was a general practice in Chislehurst, Kent, which became part of the newly established National Health Service. Through thick (paperwork and reorganisations) and thin (resources), Dr Stella Ambache was a lifelong champion of the NHS. |
| Stella, my aunt, who has died aged 98, was the first female GP in Chislehurst, working for 25 years in a sole practice from her home. Born in Lastingham, North Yorkshire, she was the youngest of four children of Julian Cornes, an Indian Civil Service judge, and his wife, Lilian (nee Marshall). At the age of 15, she told her father that she wanted to be a nurse. He replied: “A doctor would be more fun.” | |
| Since her school, St Margaret’s, Bushey, Hertfordshire, considered the teaching of science to girls inappropriate, she left soon after. While studying at Cambridge, she met Nachman Ambache, a fellow student, in the labs, and they married in 1942. Once she had completed her studies at the Royal Free hospital, Hampstead, west London, she qualified and was licensed to practise, while Nachman became a research physiologist with the Medical Research Council. | Since her school, St Margaret’s, Bushey, Hertfordshire, considered the teaching of science to girls inappropriate, she left soon after. While studying at Cambridge, she met Nachman Ambache, a fellow student, in the labs, and they married in 1942. Once she had completed her studies at the Royal Free hospital, Hampstead, west London, she qualified and was licensed to practise, while Nachman became a research physiologist with the Medical Research Council. |
| In 1946, having bought a large, severely bomb-damaged house in Chislehurst, Stella hung her plate on the gate. She had a telephone and a bicycle, and after two years, some 200 patients. | In 1946, having bought a large, severely bomb-damaged house in Chislehurst, Stella hung her plate on the gate. She had a telephone and a bicycle, and after two years, some 200 patients. |
| Stella also took on additional responsibilities. She was medical officer for the Metropolitan Police, examining sexual offence cases in south-east London. In 1953 she was appointed medical officer to the British Red Cross, and in 1956 was asked to accompany a train sent to help refugees from the Hungarian uprising. She agreed and returned with a Hungarian family whose son she housed for six months. | Stella also took on additional responsibilities. She was medical officer for the Metropolitan Police, examining sexual offence cases in south-east London. In 1953 she was appointed medical officer to the British Red Cross, and in 1956 was asked to accompany a train sent to help refugees from the Hungarian uprising. She agreed and returned with a Hungarian family whose son she housed for six months. |
| In 1954 she joined GP meetings discussing problem cases and their psychological causes, which were chaired by the Hungarian psychoanalyst Michael Balint. Stella now changed professions and undertook the intensive four-year training to become a member of the British Psychoanalytical Society (BPAS). In 1969 she started working with private patients, in a rented consulting room in Wimpole Street. | In 1954 she joined GP meetings discussing problem cases and their psychological causes, which were chaired by the Hungarian psychoanalyst Michael Balint. Stella now changed professions and undertook the intensive four-year training to become a member of the British Psychoanalytical Society (BPAS). In 1969 she started working with private patients, in a rented consulting room in Wimpole Street. |
| Stella began to specialise in children and was an active member of the Winnicott Clinic of Psychotherapy. She qualified as a child analyst in 1973 and later chaired the Winnicott Trust. She was the honorary secretary to BPAS from 1977-80, and an active member of the independent group within BPAS. After 20 years as a psychoanalyst, Stella retired, aged 70. A quiet force with a social conscience, she then founded a charity, the South East Psychotherapy Group, to spread the work to suburban London. | Stella began to specialise in children and was an active member of the Winnicott Clinic of Psychotherapy. She qualified as a child analyst in 1973 and later chaired the Winnicott Trust. She was the honorary secretary to BPAS from 1977-80, and an active member of the independent group within BPAS. After 20 years as a psychoanalyst, Stella retired, aged 70. A quiet force with a social conscience, she then founded a charity, the South East Psychotherapy Group, to spread the work to suburban London. |
| Nachman and their son Jonathan predeceased Stella. She is survived by her children Jeremy and Diana, her grandchildren, Zoe and Lucy, and six great-grandchildren. | Nachman and their son Jonathan predeceased Stella. She is survived by her children Jeremy and Diana, her grandchildren, Zoe and Lucy, and six great-grandchildren. |