“OUR GRACIE”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 July 1939, Page 10

“OUR GRACIE”

RECOVERY FROM ILLNESS. DUE TO SKILL OF DUNEDIN GRADUATE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, July 28. The recent illness of the noted English comedienne, Gracie Fields, has interested film and radio enthusiasts throughout the British Empire, but it is not generally known that Miss Fields owed her recovery to the skill of a graduate of the University of Otago, Mr W. W. Searle, who is at present 'Registrar of Chelsea Hospital for Women, London, and also holds the position of obstetrical surgeon in the new Westminster Hospital, which was recently opened by the King. Miss Fields became seriously ill early last month, and was admitted to the Chelsea Hospital for Women, where she was attended by several prominent members of the medical profession, including Lord Dawson of Penn and Sir Cornyns Berkeley. When an operation was decided on, it fell to the lot of Mr Searle to perform it, and he did so with sych success that his patient is now almost completely recovered.

The operation was a major one, and for some clays afterward Miss Fields’s condition was so critical that only her mother and her film, director, Mr Monty Banks, were allowed to see her. During the star's stay in hospital the “Evening News” published a cartoon by Strubej depicting the window of her room in the institution and John Citizen, bearing a posy of flowers, standing outside. Underneath was the caption “Our Gracie.” The original was sent by the cartoonist to Miss Fields, who wrote on it, “It gives me much pleasure to give this picture to Mr Searle,” and, across the window, “0.K., Mr Searle will soon have me out of here.” She presented it to her surgeon. Mr Searle, who is a son-in-law of Dr. R. J. T. Bell, professor of mathematics at the University of Otago, and a son of ,Mr Walter Searle, Oamaru, was educated at Waitaki Boys’ High School and graduated from the Otago University in 1929. He went to the Old Country where he took the degrees of M.C.O.G. and F.R.C.S. (Eng. and Ed.). Two years ago he was appointed Registrar of the Chelsea Hospital for Women. His appointment as obstetrical surgeon to Westminster Hospital was made recently. (Gracie Fields is starring in “Keep Smiling,” which is showing at the State Theatre. Masterton).