HUGHES, Brodie

1913 - 1989

Ernest Brodie Cobbett Hughes was born at Broadstairs, Kent on 21 September 1913, son of Ernest Theodore Cobbett Hughes (1877-31 July 1961), MRCS, assistant medical superintendent of Lewisham Infirmary, and his wife Dorothy Kate Cobbett (1878-March 1919), daughter of William Vines Holt Cobbett, who married at Richmond, Surrey on 16 February 1911. Young Ernest was educated at Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology and University College London, before entering University College Hospital for clinical studies. He qualified in 1937 and during his early resident appointments came under the influence of Wilfred Trotter FRS and Julian Taylor, both of whom inspired an interest in the surgical approach to pain and disorders of the central nervous system. He qualified F.R.C.S. in 1939 and commenced training in neurosurgery at the National Hospital, Queen Square, under Harvey Jackson and Julian Taylor. In 1947, Hughes was appointed neurosurgeon to the Birmingham United Hospitals and the following year, at the age of 35, appointed to the Chair of Neurosurgery at Birmingham University. In addition to his professional work, he was a member of many university and hospital committees as well as being Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry 1974-1978. He retired to Saxmundham, Suffolk, mainly because of its proximity to the Aldeburgh Festival, and apart from his work he had many outside interests which included playing the oboe, fly-fishing for trout and painting and was a member and exhibitor at the Southwold Art Circle. He married at Westminster, London in 1971, Frances Wendy Alexander but had no issue. Ernest Brodie Cobbett Hughes died at Fairfield House South, Saxmundham, Suffolk on 23 March 1989, aged 75.

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Works by This Artist