Beulah Bewley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beulah Bewley
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| Born |
Beulah Rosemary Knox
2 September 1929 County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
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| Died | 20 January 2018 (aged 88) London, England, UK
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| Education | Alexandra College Trinity College Dublin |
| Occupation | public health physician |
| Known for | President of the Medical Women's Federation on the General Medical Council |
| Spouse(s) |
Thomas Bewley
(m. 1955) |
| Children | 5, including Susan |
Dame Beulah Rosemary Bewley DBE (born Knox; 2 September 1929 – 20 January 2018) was an important British doctor. She worked in public health, which means she focused on keeping whole communities healthy. She was also a leader for women doctors. She even became the president of the Medical Women's Federation.
Contents
Her Early Life and Education
Beulah Rosemary Knox was born on September 2, 1929. She grew up in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. She was the second of three daughters. Her family was Protestant. Her mother, Ina Eagleson Knox, came from a wealthy family. Her father, John Benjamin Knox, worked for a bank.
When Beulah was 14, she went to Alexandra College in Dublin. She lived there as a boarder.
Becoming a Doctor
Beulah decided she wanted to be a doctor when she was only five years old. She worked hard to achieve this dream. In 1953, she qualified as a doctor. She studied at Trinity College Dublin.
In 1955, she married Thomas Bewley. They moved to England. For 15 years, she worked in paediatrics. This is the area of medicine that focuses on children's health. Later, she went back to school. She earned a master's degree in social medicine. She was the only woman in her class at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Her Work in Public Health
After her training, Beulah worked in public health. She worked at several places in London. These included King's College Hospital Medical School. She also worked at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In 1982, she joined the Faculty of Public Health Medicine. This is part of the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom. She also served on a section of the Royal Society of Medicine. This section focused on Epidemiology and Public Health. Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread.
Her old medical school, Trinity College, celebrated its 300th birthday in 2011. Beulah was part of the planning board for this big event. She served on the board from 2007 to 2012.
Special Recognitions
- 2000: Beulah Bewley was given a very special honour. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This happened in the 2000 New Year Honours. She received this award for her great work in public health. It also recognized her efforts to help women have equal chances in their careers.
- 2002: Trinity College Dublin gave her another honour. She received an Honorary LLD degree. This is a special law degree given to people who have achieved a lot.
A Quote from Beulah
Beulah once said: "There certainly was discrimination. They used to look at you and say she is married, or she has got children and if you were not married, they were expecting you to get married." This shows how women doctors faced challenges in her time.
Her Family Life
While at Trinity College Dublin, Beulah met Thomas Bewley. He was a young psychiatrist. His family owned the famous Bewley's coffee shops. They got married in 1955. They had five children together.
Their second daughter was born with Down Syndrome. Doctors did not expect her to live long. But she lived to be 44 years old. Beulah was very proud of her.
Her daughter Susan later became a medical professor. Susan also wrote a book about her mother's life.
Her Legacy
Dame Beulah Bewley passed away on January 20, 2018. She was 88 years old. She died in London from heart disease and dementia. She is remembered by her husband and four of her children.
