Arkyl Staveley Gough

Arkyl Staveley Gough was born in London on 16 September 1900.[2] He was educated at Bedford Modern School between 1912 and 1918.[7] In the final months of World War I, Gough entered the Royal Air Force as a cadet pilot officer but was demobilised in 1919 and decided to embark on a career in medicine.[1][7][8]

Gough entered Guy's Hospital Medical School where he was a member of the territorial army, attached to the Artists Rifles, and gained a blue in athletics running the half mile for London University.[2] He was made LRCP and MRCS in 1925, BM BS (London) in 1927, and entered into General Practice in Watford.[2] With an ambition to become a surgeon he studied for the FRCS which he passed in 1929.[2] After qualifying he continued his practice in Watford while also conducting surgical work at the Peace Memorial Hospital.[2] When the NHS was formed, he gave up General Practice and became a Consultant Surgeon to hospitals in Watford and the surrounding area.[7]

According to his obituary in the British Medical Journal, Gough’s ‘forthright opinion and skill in committees soon drew him towards medical politics’.[1][2] Gough was appointed Chairman of the British Medical Association for the North West Hertfordshire and Watford Division and was a member of its council between 1943 and 1960.[7] Between 1947 and 1960 he was a Member of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and was later made Chairman of the Harefield and Northwood Hospital Management Committee, a position he held between 1966 and 1974.[7] Gough also served as Chairman of the Watford and Bushey St John Ambulance Brigade for approximately thirty years.[7]

Gough contributed to several medical journals.[9][10] In 1966 he was made a Brother of the Order of St John of Jerusalem.[6] In 1975, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, as Chairman of the Harefield and Northwood Hospital Management Committee.[11]

Gough died on 23 February 1990.[1] He was survived by his wife, Aileen, two daughters and two grandchildren.[1] One of his daughters, Patricia Ann, married Sir Rodney Sweetnam, a distinguished orthopaedic surgeon.[12][13]