Sir Edward Pochin (1909-1990) was a British physician specialised in the dangers of ionizing radiation and known for his work on the thyroid gland.
He was one of Britain’s foremost authorities on radiation medicine and radiological protection; he worked with electronics experts and engineers to design and develop the technology and equipment necessary to measure the effect of radiation on the body, and, in 1977, convinced the International Commission on Radiological Protection (of which he was at one-point Chariman) to set up and issue protection standards.
He was a founder member of The UK National Radiological Protection Board, and played a major role at the Windscale enquiry (a fire at Cumberland’s Windscale nuclear power plant) in 1957, assessing dietary contamination and its effects.
Aged 76 in 1987 he led the enquiry into the health and safety and protection at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. The resulting ‘Pochin Report’ led to a major overhaul in radiation protection at the establishment.
Sir Edward was appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1959 and appointed Knight Bachelor in 1975. Pochin’s knighthood was awarded on his retirement from the Medical Research Council Clinical Research Department at UCH for his services to medical research.
A total of three medals (the knighthood comes with a neck badge and a breast badge) have been donated to the RCP museum by Sir Edward’s daughter. These additions to the collection represent the field of radiation medicine and radiological protection, areas of 20th century medical research currently underrepresented in the RCP collection.
The Knighthood awarded to Sir Edward is particularly rare and important medal as it recognises: ‘A pre-eminent contribution in any field of activity (usually, but not exclusively, at national level), or in a capacity which will be recognised by peer groups as inspirational and significant nationally and demonstrates sustained commitment.’
Images of RCP headquarters, past and present, are a significant part of the museum collection, and a new one has just been gifted to us.
This etching of the front of 11 St Andrews Place was given by the son of Susan George, who worked for ASH, Action on Smoking and Health, and for Dame Albertine Winner.
The print is signed ‘Gilbert Chapman 76’ and shows the front elevation of our Regent’s Park headquarters as seen from the corner of St Andrews Place and the Outer Circle. Part of the Wolfson Theatre is visible on the right hand side, and the trees rising up on the left create something of a frame for Denys Lasdun’s iconic building.
Do you have items relating to the history of medicine or the Royal College of Physicians? Please consider donating to the Royal College of Physicians Museum. We are always looking to develop our collections. At the moment we are particularly looking for items that relate to 20th century medical practice, and we have recently put out a call for donations of items related to HIV/AIDS.
If you have something you would like to donate, please email history@rcplondon.ac.uk with the following information:
