The life of much-loved Bury St Edmunds doctor Ella Joyce Cockram, 1899-1975
The story of this much-loved doctor of Bury St Edmunds is quite amazing.
Ella Joyce Cockram was born in Bridgwater, Somerset, on April 28, 1899. She spent her childhood in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, where her father was the manager of a branch of Lloyds Bank.
Educated at the high school and at St Anne’s College, both in Oxford, she went on to Kings College Hospital and graduated with a bachelor of medicine and surgery in 1925, obtaining her doctorate in 1937.
It was while she was at Kings College Hospital that she was appointed a research pathologist under Dr H A Lucas before arriving at West Suffolk General Hospital in 1926 as a house physician and resident pathologist.
She came to Bury initially for a two-week locum, but quickly realised she wanted to live and work in the town. This post included the treatment of diabetes, a medical condition she concentrated on.
In 1930 she joined the Angel Hill doctors practice working alongside renowned local doctors, Dr Ware and Dr Kilner, the first woman GP in the town. During this time, she still worked as a volunteer pathologist at the hospital and such was her dedication that in 1942 she was offered the full-time position, but declined this.
Her interest in diabetes led her to found the West Suffolk Branch of the Diabetic Association, setting up a clinic for this while her close association with the West Suffolk Hospital Management Committee led to her become its chairman.
Not content with filling these roles, Dr Cockram helped to set up the first blood-bank in England, became president for 15 years of the Bury Red Cross and in 1961 became the national president of the Medical Women’s Federation. Phew!
You might think that she might have some spare time – wrong – because she became a justice of the peace in 1953, her serving on the bench appreciated by all who knew her.
Her involvements did not stop here because as a great lover of music she was president of the Bury Bach Choir; a Guildhall Feoffee, serving a term as chairman; chairman of the governors of the Silver Jubilee School as well as foundation governor of the grammar school, later St James’ Middle School.
As a devout Christian, in 1970 she was appointed a lay canon of the cathedral, becoming the chair of the family service there, amongst many other activities. How she managed to fulfil all her appointments is a mystery.
She lived in town at 17 Northgate Street and was driven around in her Rolls-Royce by her chauffeur Albert Catton, who together with his wife, looked after her until her death.
Dr Cockram retired in 1972 and died in 1975. A service of thanksgiving held in the cathedral on November 30 was very well attended, as you might expect.
Various legacies to several organisations, including the Guildhall Feoffment Trust, were bequeathed while the Joyce Cockram Day Hospital was named in her honour at the new West Suffolk Hospital – a fitting tribute.
Members of her family still live in the town.
