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Dr

Rosemary Margaret Warren Bamforth

MB ChB
Rosemary Bamforth died 2018.jpg
graduating in 1951
Born
Rosemary Ince

19 October 1924
Glasgow
Died 17 April 2018 (aged 93)
Nationality British
Education Cheltenham Ladies College University of Glasgow
Occupation Pathologist
Spouse(s) John Bamforth
Children 3
Parents
  • Douglas Ince (father)
  • Isobel Ince (mother)

Rosemary Bamforth (born October 19, 1924 – died April 17, 2018) was a Scottish doctor who studied diseases. She worked at Bletchley Park during World War II. Bletchley Park was a top-secret place where codebreakers helped win the war.

Later, as a doctor, she worked at Southampton Hospital. She was one of the first to connect a serious lung illness called mesothelioma to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a material once used a lot in ships. She also enjoyed sports, even taking part in a sailing race when she was in her sixties!

About Rosemary's Life

Rosemary Margaret Warren Bamforth was born Rosemary Ince on October 19, 1924. Her birthplace was Glasgow, Scotland. Her mother was Isobel Ince, and her father was Douglas Ince. He ran an engineering company.

Rosemary had one brother, David Ince. He was a pilot in the air force during World War II. Rosemary met her husband, John Bamforth, when they both worked as doctors. They got married in 1960. They had three children together: two daughters and one son. Rosemary Bamforth passed away on April 17, 2018, at 93 years old.

Her Education Journey

Rosemary Bamforth went to school in Glasgow at Laurel Bank. Then she attended Beacon School in Bridge of Allan. After that, she studied at the Cheltenham Ladies' College.

Rosemary wanted to study medicine at the University of Glasgow. She applied when she was sixteen. However, she was asked to apply again when she turned seventeen. So, in 1941, she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) instead. After World War II ended, Rosemary went back to studying medicine. She started at the University of Glasgow in 1946. She graduated in 1951 with a degree in medicine.

Secret War Work

Bombe Closeup
A modern version of the Bombe machine she helped operate

Rosemary Bamforth completed her first training with the WRNS near Loch Lomond. Then, she was sent to a secret base called Outstation Eastcote. This was one of the many hidden places connected to Bletchley Park. There, she learned how to use teleprinters.

She later moved to another Bletchley Park outpost at Stanmore. Finally, she joined the team in Hut 11 at Bletchley Park itself. Her job was to work on the Bombe machines. These machines were very important. They helped to break secret German codes during the war. Rosemary had to keep her work a secret for many years. The details of Bletchley Park were not made public until the mid-1970s.

Her Medical Career

After finishing her medical studies, Rosemary Bamforth gained a lot of experience. She worked in hospitals in both the United States and the UK. In the US, she worked at McGill University and Meadowbrook Hospital. In the UK, she practiced in London, Southampton, and Portsmouth.

Rosemary became a specialist in pathology. Pathologists study diseases by looking at tissue samples. While working in the United States, she became known for her skill in diagnosing cancer from these samples.

At Southampton Hospital, Rosemary made an important discovery. She noticed that many ship workers were dying from a lung disease called mesothelioma. She realized there was a link between this illness and exposure to asbestos on ships. Asbestos is a material that was once used a lot in building ships. She shared her findings with other doctors in Southampton. At first, some people disagreed with her ideas. However, later research proved that she was right about the dangers of asbestos.

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