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Eleanor Cowie llen CowieMears ( Loudon; 9 December 1917 – 18 May 1992) was a Scottish medical practitioner and campaigner. She began working in the medical practice when she took over the London practice of a male doctor who was enlisted for the war effort. Mears became popular with the women in her cachement area who discussed their gynaelogocial problems in a way they could not do so with male doctors. She later moved to
Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
, New Zealand after the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
before returning to London in 1954 and becoming the
Family Planning Association The Family Planning Association (FPA) was a UK registered charity working to enable people to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health. It was the national affiliate for the International Planned Parenthood Federation in th ...
's first medical secretary and was then made the Planned Parenthood Federation's medical secretary. Mears was a fellow of both the
Royal Society of Medicine The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) is a medical society based at 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK. It is a registered charity, with admission through membership. Its Chief Executive is Michele Acton. History The Royal Society of Medicine (R ...
and the
Society for Endocrinology The Society for Endocrinology is an international membership organisation and registered charity representing scientists, clinicians and nurses who work with hormones. The Society was established in 1946, and currently has approximately 3,000 mem ...
and was a medical campaigner on abortion and euthanasia issues.


Early life

On 9 December 1917, Mears was born in Willowbank,
Cleland, North Lanarkshire Cleland is a village near Motherwell and Wishaw in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, . As of 2018, it has a population of about 3,000. The village has a strong coal mining heritage, and is a typical example of a working class village in North Lanark ...
, in Scotland. Her family was the Loudon family, who were successful builders in the local area. Mears was the second of three children to the builder William Loudon, and his wife Helen Cowie, Robertson. She was intended to be christened Ellen but the name was misheard and the name was put as Helen on her birth certificate instead. Between 1924 and 1930, Mears attended school in Cleland before moving to Wishaw High School until 1935. She went on to study medicine at the
University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...
despite her parents believing a woman should not be working in the medical profession. Mears was a popular and prominent student, holding left-wing political views. She was a member of the Student Christian Movement, occasionally preached in the
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) was established in 1729, and is the oldest voluntary hospital in Scotland. The new buildings of 1879 were claimed to be the largest voluntary hospital in the United Kingdom, and later on, the Empire."In Com ...
, and played golf and hockey for the University of Edinburgh. In mid-1940, Mears graduated MB ChB.


Career

At the age of 23, Mears moved to London and became the operator of a vacant practice of a male doctor, at a time when most men general practitioners were enlisted for the war effort. She went by the name of Eleanor, and she became popular with female patients in her area of practice who discussed their gynaecological problems that they would not talk about to a male doctor. Mears did not formally qualify to become a gynaecologist and was privately not agreeable to the surgical emphasis of a branch of medicine that was dominated by men. Nevertheless, she began taking an interest in women's medicine. When the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
was over, Mears emigrated to New Zealand in 1946. She set up a specialist gynaecology practice for women in
Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
. Mears established the Christchurch Marriage Guidance Council with two woman colleagues, and helped to set up the city's Family Planning Association. She also lectured and broadcast on radio and resisted pressure from both main political parties to stand for election to Parliament. Mears returned to Britain in 1956, exchanging practices for four months with fellow gynaecologist
Joan Malleson Joan Graeme Malleson (née Billson; 4 June 1899 – 14 May 1956) was an English physician, specialist in contraception and prominent advocate of the legalisation of abortion. Life Billson was born at Ulverscroft, Leicestershire. She was edu ...
, to broaden her professional opportunities. Following Malleson's death on her return journey to London, Mears purchased her practice and moved with her children to London. In 1958, she was appointed the
Family Planning Association The Family Planning Association (FPA) was a UK registered charity working to enable people to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health. It was the national affiliate for the International Planned Parenthood Federation in th ...
's first medical secretary and was then made the Planned Parenthood Federation's medical secretary. Mears was a fellow of the
Royal Society of Medicine The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) is a medical society based at 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK. It is a registered charity, with admission through membership. Its Chief Executive is Michele Acton. History The Royal Society of Medicine (R ...
, as well as the
Society for Endocrinology The Society for Endocrinology is an international membership organisation and registered charity representing scientists, clinicians and nurses who work with hormones. The Society was established in 1946, and currently has approximately 3,000 mem ...
. She was a founder of the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine, advised the
World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...
on matters relating to the control of population and was a member of both the Medical Advisory Council for the Investigation of Fertility Control and the Marriage Guidance Council. In 1960, she authored the advice book called ''Marriage, a Continuing Relationship'' for newlywed couples and it suggested that women avoid promoting radical views of women's rights and instead assume a meek role. Mears wrote ''Handbook on Oral Contraception'' in 1965, and co-authored with Alan Gutmacher ''Babies by Choice or by Chance''. She became head of research into all oral (and subsequently) inter-urine contraceptives, coordinating and observing every clinical trial conducted by pharmaceutical companies in the United Kingdom. Mears prescribed the drug Conovid to patients, believing that women should have the right to have control of their fertility and promoted oral contraceptives despite vocal opposition from her profession from individuals such as
Edith Summerskill Edith Clara Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill, (19 April 1901 – 4 February 1980) was a British physician, feminist, Labour politician and writer. She was appointed to the Privy Council in 1949. Early life Summerskill attended Eltham Hill ...
. She campaigned through the media for reform to laws regarding abortion that was put through Parliament by
Edwin Brooks Edwin Brooks (born 1 December 1929) is a British-born academic who has been a Member of Parliament (MP) in England, and a local politician in both England and Australia. Early life Brooks was born in South Wales and went to Barry Grammar Sc ...
and
David Steel David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood (born 31 March 1938) is a retired Scottish politician. Elected as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (UK Parliament constituency), Roxb ...
in the late 1960s and, unsuccessfully, euthanasia. Mears later opened consulting rooms in
Harley Street Harley Street is a street in Marylebone, Central London, named after Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer.Grimsby Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town in Lincolnshire, England with a population of 86,138 (as of 2021). It is located near the mouth on the south bank of the Humber that flows to the North Sea. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes dir ...
fish wholesaler Francis Frederick Smith. She began suffering from Alzheimer's disease by 1987, and was admitted to Rauceby Hospital in
Sleaford Sleaford is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. On the edge of the The Fens, Fenlands, it is north-east of Grantham, west of Boston, Lincolnshire, Boston, and sou ...
, where she died on 18 May 1992. She was buried at
Grantham Grantham () is a market town and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England, situated on the banks of the River Witham and bounded to the west by the A1 road (Great Britain), A1 road. It lies south of Lincoln, England ...
eight days later.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mears, Eleanor 1917 births 1992 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh 20th-century Scottish medical doctors Scottish gynaecologists Women gynaecologists 20th-century Scottish women medical doctors British general practitioners Fellows of the Royal Society of Medicine Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in England