Patrick Stewart Boulter

Patrick Stewart Boulter

Early life

He was born in Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, His father Frederick Charles Boulter was a civil engineer, and his mother was Flora Victoria (née Black). He was educated initially at King’s College School, Wimbledon. When his parents moved to Carlisle he attended Carlisle Grammar School, which had close links to Carlisle Cathedral and subsequently became Trinity School. While at school he developed a love of the outdoors and walking, hill climbing and mountaineering were to become pastimes which he continued to enjoy for the rest of his life. His decision to study medicine was influenced by a visit to the operating theatre in the local hospital. He began medical studies at Guy's Hospital Medical School but these were interrupted when he was called up for National Service, with the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Because of his medical connections was seconded to the the Royal Army Medical Corps working as an operating department , mainly in Colchester General Hospital in Essex. While waiting to return to he medical studies at Guy's, he worked at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, where his admiration for the surgeon Bill McKechnie decided him to pursue a career in surgery. After completing his studies in London, in 1955 he graduated MB BS with honours in both medicine and surgery and won both the University of London gold medal and the Royal College of Surgeons of England Handcock prize.

Surgical career

After house officer posts at Guy's Hospital he became a lecturer in anatomy at Guy’s l Medical School. His surgical training was at the Middlesex Hospital and Guy’s Hospital training under Sir Hedley Atkins.He became a consultant general surgeon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford in 1962 developing a sub=speciality interest in endocrinology and breast cancer.