Dr Elizabeth Gillieson (1914-2005)
DR Elizabeth Celia Gillieson practiced medicine in Grantham for 42 years, retiring in 1981 as senior partner at St Peter’s Hill Surgery.
The daughter of Aveling-Barford chief engineer William J Marshall, she graduated from University College Medical School, London, in 1938.
Born in Ealing, London, her life, and work both as a physician and director Dr Frier’s Childrens Fund touched many people in Grantham.
The niece of the wife of Lord Hugh Macmillan, Chief Lord of Appeal in the House of Lords, she was invited to become a debutante but instead decided to continue her ambition to become a GP.
She qualified at the UCH Medical School, now the University and Middlesex Medical School, where she won the Gold Medal for physiology and graduated on her 23rd birthday in 1938.
She was asked to go to Grantham because many of the local physicians had been called into the services, joining Dr Charles Frier at Spittlegate House, eventually becoming a partner.
During the six war years, she was kept busy at night as a Civil Defence Medical Officer, attending the wounded after bombing raids and giving anaesthetics for emergency surgery at the local hospital.
In 1944 she married a Scottish RAF officer. Her husband was posted to the Eastern Front and never returned.
As well as being a GP, Dr Gillieson found time to raise her son Martin and cared for her aging parents and handicapped sister.
She became President of the Kesteven division of the British Medical Association and while not a midwife, was actively involved in supervising them in her large obstetric practice. She was consequently elected president of the local branch of the Royal College of Midwives.
Dr Gillieson also ran the Dr Frier’s Children’s Holiday charity, which sent needy local children to Butlin’s Holiday camps in the summer.
After her sister died in 1995, she sold the family home in Welby Gardens, and moved to America to be near her son.
Former practice partner Dr Jim Sneddon said: “There were about 100 people who she would go see in their homes, or take out, at least once a month because she she felt they needed that extra care.”
She died in Massachusetts, USA aged 91.
I would comment that the charity Dr Frier’s Holiday Charity still exists and could still benefit local children (give a link). Good luck with the new website; I will watch it ! Alice.
In August of 1972, Dr Gillieson saved my life. I was 7.
I have never forgotten her; in fact I was in Grantham just two days ago, looking at the steps up to the door of the practice with fond memories of what seemed like the huge staircase up to her consulting room and of watching to be called for our appointments in the waiting room.
We moved away from Grantham in 1973 but I will never forget this very special lady.