Volume 7 - History of Anaesthesia Society

This memorial, which it appears was not very solid, lasted for only four
yews. In April 1941, it was severely damaged by an enemy bomb which
exploded nearby and it virtually disintegrated. In July 1949, Dr George
Edwards, another of the distinguished anaesthetists whom we 10s t last
year, reported the fact to the Council of the Association of
4naesthetists. An estimate was obtained by them for the cost of repair,
which was expected to be at least f100. The War Damage Cmission,
which had been set up to aid the reconstruction of buildings and
rnonunfents damaged by enemy action, was expected to make available only
110. An a eal was made in the April 1950 number of the journal
'Anaesthesia" and by October of that year nearly X134 had been raised
from various sources in Britain and North America. Tne Section of
Anaesthetics of the London Academy of Medicine in Canada contribute
C8.10.0. (L 8.50) and the Edinburgh Association of Anaesthetists £5. !l
'he final cost of restoration was nearly f155.
In July 1951, the work was put in hand and was completed in time Eor the
26th 4nnual Congress Anaesthetists which was held in London in
September of that yea:' George Edwardr was asked to organise the
unveiling ceremony of the new memorial and this was performed by Miss
Una Snow, John Snow's great-niece, on Sepi~ber 6th, in the presence of
some of the participants at the Congress. In 1958, on the occasion
of the centenary of Snow's death, wreaths were laid on the grave by the
President of the Association of Anaesthetists, Professor Cecil Gray, the
Dean of the Faculty oE Anaesthetists, Dr Frankis Evans, and the
Presidents of the Section of Anaesthetics of the Royal Society of
Medicinft Dr B.L.S.Murtagh, and of the Section of Epidemiology, Dr Ian
Taylor. The stone is in excellent condition, although it is rather
stained at its base and the inscription is becoming difficult to read.
I have taken the liberty of recounting this short history of John Snow's
grave, because there may be some who have not seen it and who may be
uncertain where to find it. (see map) The entrance to the cemetery is
in Old Brompton Road, on the 30 and 74 bus routes, and next to West
Brompton Station on the District Line. More trains go to Earls Court
Station, which is only a few minutes' walk away. The cemetery, which is
now a Royal Park, is open to the public during the hours of daylight.
It is a wonderful example of Victorian necropolis. I first knew of it
over Eorty years ago when I lived in Earls Court. One of my small soys
was always keen to visit it to see what he called the 'cows with wings ,
meaning the stone angels on some of the more ornate tombs. As soon as
one entzrs the cemetery, one can see John Snow's tomb at the start of
the first path on the left, on the right hand side. Joseph Clover is
also buried there, but his grave is more difficult to find. If one
carries on down the main avenue to the sixth path on the left and goes
along it and round the extension oE the first building, one will find it
behind another grave, about six paces beyond the first cross-path. It is
in good condition, but very overgrown.
I hope that these memorials of two great men are kept in good state and
are not allowed to deteriorate.