Person    | Female  Born 19/2/1919  Died 18/12/2000

Betty Westgate

Categories: Medicine

Health campaigner. When diagnosed with breast cancer, she was dismayed at the lack of information and support for sufferers of the disease. This led her to found the charity which was to become Breast Cancer Care. In the 1970s, before breast reconstruction became widespread, post-operative women were advised to stuff handkerchiefs, cotton wool, or even tights into their bras. This spurred her to design the 'Cumfie', which was soft, washable and spin-dryable.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Betty Westgate

Commemorated ati

Betty Westgate

Betty Westgate MBE, 1919 - 2000, a pioneer and campaigner for breast cancer s...

Read More

Other Subjects

St Thomas' Hospital

St Thomas' Hospital

Named after Thomas a Becket, so possibly founded after 1173 when Becket was canonised. As part of an Augustinian monastery, St Thomas’ (at the London Bridge site) was closed during the Reformation....

Place, Medicine

7 memorials
Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud

Founding father of psychoanalysis. Born Morovia. In 1860 the family settled in Vienna where he studied, began his career and married.  In 1875 he visited his half-brothers in Manchester, and again ...

Person, Medicine, Seriously Famous, Austria

2 memorials
Dr Noel Bertram Farman

Dr Noel Bertram Farman

Physician and surgeon. He was a GP in Hampstead for 40 years and his obituary in the British Medical Journal, 7 February 1970 makes him sound a lovely doctor.

Person, Medicine

1 memorial
G. M. Stoker, MRCS

G. M. Stoker, MRCS

Assistant Commissioner in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 (Prince of Wales's) District, 1928-1949. Serving Brother in the Order of St John.

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Lorne House

Lorne House

Early-mid 19th century pair of terraced houses, now Grade II Listed. From 1945 on this property has had a chequered career. Lome House was approved for the education and training of girls sent the...

Building, Medicine, Property

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Rhaune Laslett-O'Brien

Rhaune Laslett-O'Brien

Born as Freda Pulverness in Stepney but lived most of her life in and around West London.  After WW2 the housing conditions, the poverty and the racial mix in Notting Hill brought out her skills as...

Person, Community / Clubs, Race Issues, Social Welfare

1 memorial
R. Ness

R. Ness

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Kin Lam
1 memorial