Frank Charles Shrubsall
We greatly regret to record the death of Dr Frank Shrubsall, Senior Medical Officer of the London County Council, which occurred on September 25th at his home in Hampstead, just after his return from holiday.
Dr Shrubsall was a Vice-President of the C.A.M.W. and for many years a member of its Education Committee. At the Medical Officers’ Courses organised by the Association in conjunction with the University of London, he ivas responsible for the arrangements in connection with the students’ visits to L.C.C. Special Schools for demonstration purposes. At the Short Courses for Teachers of Mentally Defective and Retarded Children, he ivas a frequent lecturer and his help and counsel were ever at the disposal of those directing the Association’s work.
The following tribute to him is written by his friend, Dr Ralph Crowley, Chairman of the Education Committee, in the name of the C.A.M.W. Council, its officers and staff.
A great blow has fallen upon us all. We of the Central Association have in very truth lost in Dr Shrubsall a guide, philosopher and friend. To the aid of the mentally defective Dr Shrubsall brought an acute intellect, a sympathetic understanding and rare administrative ability born of a long and wide experience. These were at all times unreservedly available for all of us concerned, from whatever angle, with the many problems and difficul- ties connected with the ascertainment, care and treatment of these fellow citizens of ours, debarred from so much which constitutes the fullness of life accompanying full mental development.
Dr Shrubsall spared no pains to do the best for each individual child or adult brought under his care. No one, I know, can have realised this more than his colleagues at the London County Council, but I call to mind the many cases in regard to which we were in consultation with him at the Board of Education and the helpful discussions we had over the many difficult administrative points that arise so frequently in this work. His one purpose was to strive that administrative action should be made to accord with the human requirements of the individual boy and girl in need of help.
And the teacher found in him, too, a sound instructor and wise counsel- loi and friend. This was, of course, especially true in the case of the teacher entrusted with the care and education of these children in the special school, but, through the Short Courses of the Association and in other ways, Dr. Shrubsall reached a wide circle of teachers to whom his great knowledge of the subject and his clear mode of presentation of difficult points of law and administration, together with the practical application of these, as illustrated by examples drawn from his unrivalled experience of cases of all descriptions and variety, was greatly appreciated. We are fortunate that so much of his knowledge has been embodied in the book entitled ” Mental Deficiency Practice,” brought out last year in conjunction with his colleague. Dr A. C. Williams. Dr Shrubsall’s great knowledge and experience were of the utmost value to the Joint Committee of the Board of Education and the Board of Control on Mental Deficiency of which he was a member.
But it is not simply a learned and able colleague we have lost but one whose delightful human qualities and real friendship we learnt so warmly to appreciate and enjoy. Our deepest sympathy will go out to Mrs. Shrubsall, so closely associated with him in all his work, and to his daughter. Ralph H. Crowley.
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