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

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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...

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Royal College of General Practitioners

Royal College of General Practitioners

Founded in London. Instituted in November 1952, and granted its Royal Charter in 1972.

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4 memorials
Friends of the Royal London Hospital

Friends of the Royal London Hospital

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Group, Community / Clubs, Medicine

1 memorial
Nightingale Badge - Old

Nightingale Badge - Old

The badge was awarded to nurses who qualified from the Nightingale School at St Thomas's Hospital. Designed by Dame Alice Lloyd Still (who was matron at St Thomas's), the four arms of the cross sym...

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1 memorial
The Reverend Reginald Herman Tribe

The Reverend Reginald Herman Tribe

Reginald Herman Tribe was born on 26 May 1881 in Chatham, Kent, the eldest of the four children of Herman Thomas Bedingfield Tribe (1855-1894) and Alice Mary Tribe, née Holder (b. c1860). His birth...

Person, Armed Forces, Medicine, Religion

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
East End Maternity Hospital

East End Maternity Hospital

The splendid Lost Hospitals of London gives a full history.  In summary: Opened as the Mothers' Lying-In Home in Glamis Road, Shadwell. 1889 moved to number 396 Commercial Road and by WW1 it had ex...

Group, Medicine

2 memorials