Sir Archibald McIndoe memorial unveiled today and a Royal visit

Today East Grinstead unveiled the statue to commemorate the work of a pioneering plastic surgeon, Sir Archibald McIndoe, who treated hundreds of severely burnt airman at the Queen Victoria Hospital during the Second World War.

East Grinstead was known as, “the town that did not stare,” with the residents welcoming the recovering servicemen into the town, something that Sir Archibald encouraged as he felt the brave men’s mental health was as valuable as their physical health.

During WWII Sir Archibald not only improved existing surgical techniques (including the technique of using pedicles to rebuild facial features that had burned away) but also invented new techniques to treat the patients. So many of his techniques had not been tried before but transformed the lives of the surviving airmen. Saline baths were also ordered for the men when he noticed that the burns of airmen who had crashed into the sea healed faster than those who crashed on land.  

The statue was unveiled today outside the historic building of Sackville College by the Princess Royal. My colleague Sandie managed to go along and take a couple of pictures for me to share on Club Together. The sculptor Martin Jennings was commissioned to produce the statue and by strange coincidence it turned out that his father was treated by Sir Archibald at East Grinstead during WWII. He was a tank commander who was burnt in battle and later went on to make a successful recovery.

As an East Grinstead resident I'm pleased that such an important man who made a difference to so many lives of brave servicemen has been honoured in this way. 

Sources for information on Sir Archibald McIndoe:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-13618639

http://www.blondmcindoe.org/statue-of-sir-archibald-mcindoe-to-commemorate-his-work.html