William Evans (cardiologist)
Encyclopedia
Dr William Evans M.D., D.Sc., F.R.C.P.(Lond.), Hon.D.Sc.(Wales) (24 November 1895 – 20 September 1988) was a distinguished Harley Street
cardiologist. He was a grandson of "the Welsh Swagman", Joseph Jenkins
, whose voluminous Australian diaries over 25 years (1869-1894) he edited and published as excerpts in 1975
, Ceredigion
, the son of Ebenezer Evans and Elinor (Nell) Jenkins. He had two surviving older siblings, Elizabeth and Joseph, and two others who died as infants. His mother was a daughter of Joseph Jenkins
, the "Welsh Swagman", who entrusted to her his manuscript Australian diaries. It was planned that young William would enter the Church of England ministry, but this was abandoned around the time of the disestablishment of the church in 1920. His autobiography relates how he worked as a bank clerk from 1912 and enlisted for military service in 1914, serving with the Buffs and as an officer of the Lancashire Fusiliers
at Ypres
and Passchendaele Ridge, 1916-1918.
matriculation at the Aberystwyth University College and commenced medical studies at the London Hospital in 1920. He graduated MB BS in 1925 and MD in 1927. He was appointed house physician to Sir John Parkinson
at the hospital, later becoming his chief assistant in the Heart Department. He also assisted Lord Dawson of Penn in use of the electrocardiograph, with which he once favourably determined the disputed state of health of prime minister Stanley Baldwin
.
Dr Evans became an international authority and lecturer on diseases of the heart during his long career, from which he retired in 1967. He published several books and a large number of papers (an exhaustive list of which is appended to his autobiography).
In retirement he lived at Llanddewi Brefi
where he was known as "Wil Blocks" because of a substantial concrete-block wall around his residence. He died in 1988 aged 92, at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest
Harley Street
Harley Street is a street in the City of Westminster in London, England which has been noted since the 19th century for its large number of private specialists in medicine and surgery.- Overview :...
cardiologist. He was a grandson of "the Welsh Swagman", Joseph Jenkins
Joseph Jenkins
Joseph Jenkins , was an educated tenant farmer from Tregaron, Ceredigion, mid-Wales who, when aged over 50, suddenly deserted his home and large family to seek his fortune in Australia...
, whose voluminous Australian diaries over 25 years (1869-1894) he edited and published as excerpts in 1975
Early life
Evans was born in a Welsh farmhouse, 'Tyndomen', near TregaronTregaron
Tregaron is a market town in the county of Ceredigion, Wales, lying on the River Brenig , a tributary of the River Teifi. The town is twinned with Plouvien, in Finistere, France. According to the 2001 Census, Tregaron's population was 1,183, of whom 68.8% spoke Welsh fluently.-History:Tregaron...
, Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, the son of Ebenezer Evans and Elinor (Nell) Jenkins. He had two surviving older siblings, Elizabeth and Joseph, and two others who died as infants. His mother was a daughter of Joseph Jenkins
Joseph Jenkins
Joseph Jenkins , was an educated tenant farmer from Tregaron, Ceredigion, mid-Wales who, when aged over 50, suddenly deserted his home and large family to seek his fortune in Australia...
, the "Welsh Swagman", who entrusted to her his manuscript Australian diaries. It was planned that young William would enter the Church of England ministry, but this was abandoned around the time of the disestablishment of the church in 1920. His autobiography relates how he worked as a bank clerk from 1912 and enlisted for military service in 1914, serving with the Buffs and as an officer of the Lancashire Fusiliers
Lancashire Fusiliers
The Lancashire Fusiliers was a British infantry regiment that was amalgamated with other Fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.- Formation and early history:...
at Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
and Passchendaele Ridge, 1916-1918.
Medical career
After leaving France in September 1919, William Evans studied for University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
matriculation at the Aberystwyth University College and commenced medical studies at the London Hospital in 1920. He graduated MB BS in 1925 and MD in 1927. He was appointed house physician to Sir John Parkinson
John Parkinson (physician)
Sir John Parkinson was an English cardiologist remembered for describing Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.- Biography :...
at the hospital, later becoming his chief assistant in the Heart Department. He also assisted Lord Dawson of Penn in use of the electrocardiograph, with which he once favourably determined the disputed state of health of prime minister Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
.
Dr Evans became an international authority and lecturer on diseases of the heart during his long career, from which he retired in 1967. He published several books and a large number of papers (an exhaustive list of which is appended to his autobiography).
Private life
In 1940, at age 45, Dr Evans married Christina Downie (then aged 56). There were no children and Christina died in 1964.In retirement he lived at Llanddewi Brefi
Llanddewi Brefi
Llanddewi Brefi is a village of approximately 500 people in Ceredigion, Wales.In the 6th century, Saint David , the patron saint of Wales, held the Synod of Brefi here and it has borne his name since; "Llan" referring in Welsh place names to a church or holy place. The parish church is dedicated...
where he was known as "Wil Blocks" because of a substantial concrete-block wall around his residence. He died in 1988 aged 92, at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest