Dr James Hall: The lifeboat doctor

Dr Frederick James Simkin Hall was born in 1899. In this comprehensive talk we learn how life brought him from his roots in Yardly, Birmingham, to Deal, where he became Dr James Hall OBE, the famous lifeboat doctor, an author and the founder of the Deal and Walmer Handelian Society.

We hear what life was like working alongside the Deal boatmen in treacherous weather throughout WWII, tending to patients after boarding vessels moored in the Downs off the coast of Deal, all will running a busy doctors practice from his home in Dover Road. and working hard in the new hospital in the town. A lot of his life we can hear in his own words, taken from his autobiography, Sea Surgeon, from which his humour still emerges, well over sixty years later.

By the time of his passing, Dr James Hall was made a Freeman of Deal, he was awarded an OBE, and he had received the cross 'Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice'. He had also brought the music of Handel to audiences behind the iron curtain to the composer’s home town in East Germany, where they became the first English choir ever to sing at the Handel festival.

A truly remarkable man.

Sharon Powell researches, writes about and presents a wide range of topics related to her home town of Deal.

Timings

Thursday 17 September:

10:30

Location & directions

Astor Community Theatre, Stanhope Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 6AB

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Additional information

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)

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