AOB and eminent chemist Arthur Ewins (1882-1957) was born on this day (2 February) in 1882. He grew up in Herne Hill and went to Alleyn’s, then on to the Wellcome Trust, at that time situated in Brockwell Hall. In 1899, at the age of seventeen, he had the opportunity to obtain a good grounding in chemistry at The Wellcome Physiological Research Laboratories, which had then recently been established at Brockwell Hall—a former manor house of which most of the estate had already become the public Brockwell Park. It was there that he discovered the first effective treatment for acute pneumonia, which was later used to successfully treat Churchill in World War Two.
Arthur Ewins (far right back row) is pictured below with colleagues in 1914 in front of Brockwell House (which was demolished in 1923). Also in the picture is another AOB and scientist Alexander Glenny, (back row, 2nd left), who discovered the diphtheria vaccine. Both Glenny and Ewins were able to attend Alleyn’s thanks to the old London County Council scholarships. They both made major contributions to medical science and got their first jobs at Wellcome due to Dr Baker, later headmaster of Alleyn’s.
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With thanks to Sharon O’Connor and The Dulwich Society
Photo Credit (below): Portrait of Sir Henry Dale, with members of the staff, Wellcome Physiological Research Laboratories. Credit: Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Portrait of Arthur Ewins courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery
Junior School Open Day
The next Alleyn's Junior School Open Event is from 1.30pm to 3pm on Wednesday 22 May 2024. There will be a Head's Talk at 1.40pm after which you will be offered a tour of the school with a pupil. There is no need to book a place at this Open Event - everyone is welcome.
Last updated on 20 05 24 at 09:12
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