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F. R. WALDRON, M.D., D.P.H.
On 6th November Dr. Waldron, the Medical Officer of Health, retired after a lifetime
of public service, during which his kindly but firm leadership gained for him
great respect. His wise judgment and ability in the very many aspects of his work
were highly regarded; he was always approachable and his calm temperament and
good humour endeared him to all.
We wish Dr. and Mrs. Waldron a long and happy retirement.
In 1927 Dr. Waldron was an assistant in general practice in Preston, Lancashire.
It was this experience which led him to decide that in the social and preventive
approach to the practice of medicine lay the greatest opportunities. As a result he
obtained his D.P.H. and Diploma in Midwifery as a postgraduate student in Dublin
in 1929-30. This was followed by his appointment as Resident Medical Officer
at the East Lancashire Sanatorium especially to study tuberculosis.
Between 1931 and 1933 Dr. Waldron was Assistant Medical Officer and T.B.
Officer at Huddersfield, Yorkshire, where he was able to introduce special methods
for the treatment of tuberculosis.
It was in 1934 that Dr. Waldron came to south-east London when he was appointed
to the post of Deputy Medical Officer of Health and T.B. Officer for the Metropolitan
Borough of Greenwich. In 1935 the London County Council appointed him as
honorary consultant in tuberculosis to St. Alfege's Hospital. He obtained his Doctorate
of Medicine (M.D.) in this year.
During 1936 Dr. Waldron was appointed Medical Officer of Health for the
Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich. During this first part of his service with the
Borough as M.O.H., which lasted until his release under Ministry of Health scheme
to H.M. Forces in 1943, he introduced various schemes which were adopted by the
Borough. Among them were a scheme for pupil midwife training by an association
of the Municipal Maternity Home with King's College Hospital (1937); a diphtheria
immunisation scheme (1937); in 1938 the Council accepted reports: 1. Antitheumatic
scheme in association with the Miller General Hospital; and 2. Cyanide
disinfestation scheme. These last two schemes were placed in abeyance because of
the national crisis. In 1938-39 he organised and deployed the Council's casualty
services.
On Dr. Waldron's release in 1943 to H.M. Forces, the Council commended his
services during the "blitz" by a special resolution of the Council.
From 1944 to 1945 Dr. Waldron was first in Normandy and then in Germany.
He entered Belsen concentration camp on 15th April, 1945. During this period he
was Mentioned in Despatches.
The post-war period brought many changes in Dr. Waldron's career, but before
the first of the major changes, he introduced in 1947 a scheme for disinfestation
involving the establishment of a special anti-fly and mosquito squad. This idea,
which was accepted and implemented by the Council, was adopted by other boroughs,
and is still in existence.
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