Frederick Gymer Parsons –Orchard Cross 1926 – 1939/40.
Frederick Gymer Parsons was born in 1863 and was a leading figure in British Anatomy. His academic life was spent entirely at St. Thomas’s Hospital Medical School, obtaining DSc London, FRCS, FSA. Parsons started his career as lecturer in Biology at St. Thomas’s and was lecturer and Professor of Anatomy there from 1886 to 1929. He was also Lecturer at London School of Medicine for Women; Hunterian Professor at Royal College of Surgeons; Senior Warden, Apothecaries’ Hall; Examiner at the University of Oxford, Cambridge, Aberdeen, London, Birmingham, National University of Ireland, University of Wales, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Surgeons, Apothecaries Hall, and other bodies; President Anatomical Society; Vice-Pres. Royal Anthropological Institute; President Section H British Association. He was appointed Research Fellow in Anthropology at St Thomas’s Hospital; late Professor of Anatomy, University of London; Lecturer at St Thomas’s Hospital and at Bethlem Royal Hospital.
His earliest scientific work was in the field of comparative anatomy and he first achieved distinction by his studies of comparative myology. He was a meticulous observer of himan anatomy and published many papers dealing with the topography of soft tissues. Later he made a systematic study of the skeletal remains of the early Anglo-Saxon population of England, which was regarded as a particularly important basis of reference. Parsons was also editor of the St Thomas Hospital Gazette.
After he retired and settled in Whiteleaf he continued his antiquarian interests by local archaeological studies, which led to the publication of his “Old Records of Monks Risborough” He married Mary Parker, who died in an accident in London, in 1915). He died on 11 March 1943.
Publications: The History of St. Thomas’s Hospital, Methuen & Co: London, 1932-1936.
The Earlier Inhabitants of London, Cecil Palmer, London 1927
Old Records of Monks Risborough.
Source: Kings College London College Achives
Whiteleaf & Cadsden Residents Association 