Dr Miall Smith
Welwyn Garden's first doctor
By Roger Filler
Among the town’s earliest pioneers were Dr Gladys Miall-Smith and her husband Dr Hubert Fry who arrived in Welwyn Garden City in March 1922, when the population was around 800.
First patient
They had been invited to the town by their friend Richard Reiss, one of Welwyn Garden’s founding fathers. News of their arrival travelled fast, and within half an hour the first patient was knocking on their door asking if the lady doctor had arrived yet. She was closely followed into the town by Dr Furnival in July 1922. Tragically Dr Fry died in 1930 but Dr Miall Smith became something of an institution in WGC, bringing hundreds of Garden Citizens into the world and worked tirelessly to improve health standards in the town, alongside Celia Reiss, Richard Reiss’s wife, before the arrival of the National Health Service.
Black Fan
When I interviewed Dr Miall Smith for my book on the history of the town in the mid 1980s, she was approaching the end of her life, but she was still as bright as a button and happy to talk about the early days of the town. Of how she visited primitive cottages at Black Fan (since demolished) where there was no electricity, no mains water or drainage, or of one of her daring-do missions in crossing the branch railway line in her little car, tying a scarf round the gate to keep it open, hoping that she would not encounter a train chuffing round the corner as she made her way across and through the several fields and tracks to make a house call in Digswell.
Hitler’s Secret Weapon
When we talked about the early days of the Second World War and of the evacuees and the threat of a major offensive she told me that the only offensive she saw was an epidemic of German measles. She had met one woman who thought it was Hitler’s secret weapon! After I met her in her home in Guessens Road, she became frail and finished her days at the Elizabeth House in Panshanger. I am not sure what year she died. I guess around 1984-85.
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Dear everyone, it is so lovely to read you. I am one of Dr Miall Smith great grand daughters. She died in January 1991, at 102 years old, and I was born in May the same year so I never got the chance to meet her. Nevertheless, I am eager to hear and learn about my ancestor’s life, whom I look up to so much, being a surgeon myself. Her life and fights were so extraordinary, it feels very humbling to perpetuate her legacy. Thank you so much for your testimony.
Does anyone have a photograph of the Black Fan building as I am writing a biography of George Harmsworth who spent many years contracting for the ICI after WW2?
Tony@Harmsworth.net
Hi Tony, HALs have a great collection of photographs from across Hertfordshire in their archives. I’ve sent an email on your behalf but you can always send an email to the inbox or visit in person I’ve included the address and email below.
Address and contact details
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Register Office Block
County Hall
Hertford
Hertfordshire
SG13 8EJ
Tel: 0300 123 4049
Email: hals.enquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Best,
Luke
Dr Miall Smith was talked about in my home in near reverential tones, and clearly was the fountain of all medical knowledge in WGC in the war years. The only memory I have of her was her retirement and the pupils of Applecroft School presented her with a Lloyd Loom arm chair as a retirement present, to which school, and parents had donated.
I can just about remember Dr Miall Smith calling at my house when I was an extremely young lad. I was a sickly specimen and any “Bugs” going around would always seem to find me. I am not sure why, but I was terrified of her and when I was ill in bed, I would hide under the covers and would tell her to go away, much to my Mothers embarrassment. I had not realised that she must have been quite young when she visited me, as I was amazed when I read of her death at least 40 years later in the mid eighties. I am not sure whether she was based at the Doctors Surgery on the corner of Russelcroft and Valley Road. I know Dr Mackay was there and visited this large house where the Surgery was housed, many times. Almost a life time ago now.