Winifred Rushforth
Encyclopedia
Dr Winifred Rushforth OBE
(1885-1983) (née Bartholomew) was a Jungian psychoanalyst who spent much of her career in Edinburgh
, Scotland
.
, Scotland
, in 1885 and educated at the Edinburgh Ladies' College. She was a member of the Bartholomew family, farmers on the Hopetoun Estate
since about 1650.
Rushforth graduated with an MB ChB from the University of Edinburgh
in 1908.
. There she later met her husband, stockbroker Frank Rushforth, and she spent the best part of the next 20 years as a surgeon
and hospital administrator, specialising in women's health
.
and, on returning from India, spent some time training at the Tavistock Clinic
, before setting up a private practice
in Edinburgh in 1929. In 1939, during the burgeoning of the Child Guidance Movement, she established the Davidson Clinic with the aim of bringing family therapy
to the community.
Dr Rushforth gave regular lectures at the Salisbury Centre, in Salisbury Road, Edinburgh, until her late 90s. She ran weekly dream groups and "Search for God" groups from her house at 11 Lauder Road, Edinburgh, almost until the time of her death.
Her daughter, Dr
Diana Bates, continued Rushforth's work and was Director of Wellspring in Edinburgh
for some years.
. She was fascinated, in particular, by his work on the Bushmen
of the Kalahari and kept a carved wooden statuette of a bushman, by the contemporary sculptor Christopher Hall, in the drawing room of her home in Edinburgh. Her portrait in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
features the sculpture.
It was Van der Post who first told Prince Charles about Dr Rushforth's work on dreams and psychoanalysis, and urged the Prince to meet her.
In March 1983, Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited Dr Rushforth in Edinburgh. They spent an hour discussing Dr Rushforth's theories, on dreams and spirituality
, over afternoon tea. Dr Diana Bates, who was also present, later remarked that it was evident how very thoroughly Prince Charles had read Dr Rushforth's books and how deeply he had thought about spiritual
matters.
In the months that followed, Prince Charles wrote regularly to Dr Rushforth and sent her hand-written copies of his forthcoming speeches, for her interest.
When Rushforth died, in August 1983, Prince Charles was said to be very taken aback. "If only I had got to know her sooner!" he is said to have exclaimed.
in Old St Paul's Church, Edinburgh, as Prince Charles's representative. The service was conducted by the then Bishop of Edinburgh
, Richard Holloway
. Father Jock Dalrymple of the Tavistock Clinic, gave the eulogy
.
In 2002, a memorial sculpture in Edinburgh's George Square Gardens by the sculptor Christopher Hall was dedicated by Prince Charles
.
A 1982 portrait of Rushforth by the artist Victoria Crowe is held in the collection of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1885-1983) (née Bartholomew) was a Jungian psychoanalyst who spent much of her career in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Early life
Rushforth was born in West LothianWest Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in 1885 and educated at the Edinburgh Ladies' College. She was a member of the Bartholomew family, farmers on the Hopetoun Estate
Hopetoun House
Hopetoun House is the traditional residence of the Earl of Hopetoun . It was built 1699-1701, designed by William Bruce. It was then hugely extended from 1721 by William Adam until his death in 1748 being one of his most notable projects. The interior was completed by his sons John Adam and Robert...
since about 1650.
Rushforth graduated with an MB ChB from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in 1908.
Career in India
On graduating, she set sail for IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. There she later met her husband, stockbroker Frank Rushforth, and she spent the best part of the next 20 years as a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
and hospital administrator, specialising in women's health
Women's health
Women's health refers to health issues specific to human female anatomy. These often relate to structures such as female genitalia and breasts or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in, females. Women's health issues include menstruation, contraception, maternal health,...
.
Career in the UK
She became very interested in psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and, on returning from India, spent some time training at the Tavistock Clinic
Tavistock Clinic
The in London was founded in 1920 by Dr. Hugh Crichton-Miller, a psychiatrist who developed psychological treatments for shell-shocked soldiers during and after the First World War. The clinic's first patient was, however, a child. Its clinical services were always, therefore, for both children...
, before setting up a private practice
Medical practice
A medical practice or practice of medicine is the practice of medicine, as performed by a medical practitioner—a physician...
in Edinburgh in 1929. In 1939, during the burgeoning of the Child Guidance Movement, she established the Davidson Clinic with the aim of bringing family therapy
Family therapy
Family therapy, also referred to as couple and family therapy, family systems therapy, and family counseling, is a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of...
to the community.
Wellspring, Sempervivum and the Salisbury Centre
In 1978, she was instrumental in setting up Wellspring as a successor to the Davidson Clinic. In the late 1970s, she established a movement entitled Sempervivum which brought together free thinkers at annual Easter Schools.Dr Rushforth gave regular lectures at the Salisbury Centre, in Salisbury Road, Edinburgh, until her late 90s. She ran weekly dream groups and "Search for God" groups from her house at 11 Lauder Road, Edinburgh, almost until the time of her death.
Her daughter, Dr
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
Diana Bates, continued Rushforth's work and was Director of Wellspring in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
for some years.
Correspondence with Jung
Rushforth corresponded with Carl Gustav Jung towards the end of his life - although they never met.Friendship with Sir Laurens van der Post
For many years, Rushforth was a close friend of Sir Laurens van der PostLaurens van der Post
Sir Laurens Jan van der Post, CBE was a 20th century Afrikaner author of many books, farmer, war hero, political adviser to British heads of government, close friend of Prince Charles, godfather of Prince William, educator, journalist, humanitarian, philosopher, explorer, and...
. She was fascinated, in particular, by his work on the Bushmen
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
of the Kalahari and kept a carved wooden statuette of a bushman, by the contemporary sculptor Christopher Hall, in the drawing room of her home in Edinburgh. Her portrait in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery on Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. It holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. In addition it also holds the Scottish National Photography Collection...
features the sculpture.
It was Van der Post who first told Prince Charles about Dr Rushforth's work on dreams and psychoanalysis, and urged the Prince to meet her.
Friendship with Prince Charles
In the early 1980s, Rushforth's book Something is Happening was gifted to Prince Charles by Alick Bartholomew (a relative of Rushforth's) who assisted Prince Charles on the re-decoration of Highgrove House.In March 1983, Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited Dr Rushforth in Edinburgh. They spent an hour discussing Dr Rushforth's theories, on dreams and spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
, over afternoon tea. Dr Diana Bates, who was also present, later remarked that it was evident how very thoroughly Prince Charles had read Dr Rushforth's books and how deeply he had thought about spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
matters.
In the months that followed, Prince Charles wrote regularly to Dr Rushforth and sent her hand-written copies of his forthcoming speeches, for her interest.
When Rushforth died, in August 1983, Prince Charles was said to be very taken aback. "If only I had got to know her sooner!" he is said to have exclaimed.
Memorials
Sir Laurens van der Post attended Dr Rushforth's Memorial ServiceMemorial service
Memorial service is often used to describe a secular or non-religious funeral. A funeral is a religious service that is held with or without the body of the deceased present...
in Old St Paul's Church, Edinburgh, as Prince Charles's representative. The service was conducted by the then Bishop of Edinburgh
Bishop of Edinburgh
The Bishop of Edinburgh is the Ordinary of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh.The see was founded in 1633 by King Charles I. William Forbes was consecrated in St. Giles' Cathedral as its first bishop on 23 January 1634 though he died later that year...
, Richard Holloway
Richard Holloway
Richard F. Holloway is a Scottish writer and broadcaster and was formerly Bishop of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church....
. Father Jock Dalrymple of the Tavistock Clinic, gave the eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
.
In 2002, a memorial sculpture in Edinburgh's George Square Gardens by the sculptor Christopher Hall was dedicated by Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
.
A 1982 portrait of Rushforth by the artist Victoria Crowe is held in the collection of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery on Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. It holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. In addition it also holds the Scottish National Photography Collection...
.
Publications
- Something is Happening: Spiritual Analysis and Depth Psychology in the New Age (Turnstone Press, 1981)
- Ten Decades of Happenings (Gateway Books, 1984)(autobiography)
- Life's Currency: Time, Money and Energy : An Anthology of Shorter Writings (Atrium, 1986)