Edwin Awdas Neatby M.D. (16 November 1858 – 1 December 1933) was an orthodox physician who converted to homeopathy to become a physician at the London Homeopathic Hospital, Consulting Physician at the Buchanan Homeopathic Hospital St. Leonard’s on Sea, Consulting Surgeon at the Leaf Hospital Eastbourne, President of the British Homeopathic Society. Neatby was a Fellow of the British Gynaecological Society.

Edwin Awdas Neatby founded the Missionary School of Homeopathy (Tyler M.L., Homeopathy Introductory Lectures, (B. Jain Publishers, 30 Jun 1996). Page 6.) at the London Homeopathic Hospital in 1903, and run by the British Homeopathic Association.

Edwin Awdas Neatby was practice partner with fellow homeopath, Dr. Thomas George Stonham. Neatby was also a colleague of William Bayes, Charles Harrison Blackley, John Galley Blackley, David Dyce Brown, George Henry Burford, James Compton Burnett, John Moorhead Byres Moir, John Henry Clarke, H A Clifton Harris, Paul Francois Curie, Robert Ellis Dudgeon, John Epps, Washington Epps, Giles Forward Goldsbrough, Frederick William Hays, Clarence Granville Hey, James Johnstone, Richard Hughes, Thomas Robinson Leadam, Octavia Margaret Sophia Lewin, Alfred Crosby Pope, William Percy Purdom, Mathias Roth, Charles Thomas Knox Shaw, Frank Herbert Shaw, Harold Wynne Thomas, Charles Edwin Wheeler, David Wilson, James Craven Wood, Stephen Yeldham and many others.

Edwin Awdas Neatby practiced in Belsize Park, at 161 Haverstock Hill, at 82 Wimpole Street, and at The Hawthornes in Barnsley.

Edwin Aldas Neatby was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, the son of lumber merchant Joseph Neatby (1831 – 1900) and his wife Eliza Shaw (1833 – 1905).

In 1880 Neatby became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons (England). The following year he received his Licentiate from the Royal College of Physicians, and the year after, 1882, he was awarded his M.D. from the University of Brussels.

In April, 1882, Neatby married Winifred Jones (1851 – 1908). They had two daughters, Marion Jean Edwina (1883 – 1945) and Winifred (1885 – 1958). In August, 1910, a year and a half after his wife Winifred’s death, Neatby married her older sister, Mary Ruth Jones (1868 – 1949).

In 1885, Neatby left his practice in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, succeeded there by fellow homeopath Thomas George Stonham. The following year, Stonham joined Neatby in London. They set up in partnership in Hampstead from 1886 until 1920, when Stonham left for Worthing.

 

 

In 1903 the Educational Committee of the British Homeopathic Association in conjunction with the London Homeopathic Hospital formed a Missionary Sub Committee to promote a course of instruction for non medical missionaries.

This committee included both George Henry Burford, James Johnstone and Edwin Awdas Neatby, who was to become the first Honorary Secretary and later Dean of the Missionary School of Medicine.

The idea from the outset was that the School’s courses would be flexible, in order to cater for the varying needs and experience of the students, some of whom were on home leave from the field, and others who had yet to receive a posting overseas.

It was emphatically not designed to train doctors and nurses, but to provide a background of medical knowledge to missionaries who might be working considerable distances from professional medical care.

Although students came from a wide variety of missionary societies, there was some opposition at first from religious organisations who felt that homeopathy was not compatible with Christian beliefs.

The first course began on 11 January 1904, with 24 students taking part in the first session. A format soon evolved whereby the course covered three terms and featured lectures and instruction on practical medicine; surgery; diseases of the eye, ear, nose, and throat; children’s diseases; diseases of the skin; tropical diseases; dentistry; first aid; anatomy and physiology; practical anaesthetics; women’s diseases; nursing and midwifery (the latter three courses were provided for women only).

Students received additional lectures from doctors at other institutions such as the London School of Tropical Medicine. This course structure proved popular enough to remain unchanged for 75 years.

In 1977 a three month course was introduced but demand for the courses continued to fall during the 1980s, when a large percentage of the students who did attend were from other European countries.

In 1992 the organisation changed its name to Medical Services Ministries. There were further experiments with four week courses for qualified nurses but in 1996 the Medical Services Ministries decided to leave its premises at 2 Powis Place, its home since the 1920s, and provide a more ad hoc service by tailor made courses to individual demand.

David MacNish was Vice President to Edwin Awdas Neatby at the Homeopathic Congress in 1906.

The International Homeopathic League was founded in Rotterdam (Holland), on the 10th September, 1925 by Roy Upham 1879 – 1956, USA, the first President, George Henry Burford, England, the first Vice President, and Harold Fergie Woods, England, Clarence Granville Hey, England, Edwin Awdas Neatby, England, Victor Ellwood, England, M Fremont Kranz Busch, Germany, Jean Paul Tessier junior, France, E C Tuinzing, Holland, Augusto Vinyals Roig 1886 – 1951, Spain, Juan Bertran, Spain, Petrie Nicholas Grouleff, Denmark, A. Moeira Piedras, Brazil and Pierre Schmidt, Switzerland.

Edwin Awdas Neatby was born on the 16th November 1858 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, son of Joseph & Eliza Neatby. He appears in the 1861 census, aged 2, with his parents at 22 Wellington Street, Barnsley.

In 1871 he appears again, aged 12, the family now living at 22 Market Street. In the 1881 Census of Whitechapel, London, Edwin is shown at The London Hospital as a 22 year old surgeon.

He married WINIFRED JONES on the 19th June 1882 in the Whitechapel registration district. Winifred was born around 1851. Edwin became and doctor and physician. He eventually lived at East Grinstead in Sussex, Dr Neatby had a office in Wimpole Street in London.

(Edwin also lived in Belsize Park – Edwin Neatby and Mary Ruth  Edwin’s wife died in 1908 and he was married in Hampstead at St. Peter’s Church, Belsize Park, by the Rev. W. Pope, curate of the parish, Mary Ruth Jones who was living at 39 Belsize Park Gardens. She was the daughter of John Jones.

Edwin sells house after 25 years of occupancy or does he? He may have moved in 1908 when his first wife died or even earlier. His uncle Dr Thomas Neatby lived at 29 Thurloe Road with a large family and he may have just carried on spending time in the Belsize area while living in East Grinstead. Did he rent or own?)

Winifred died at 82 Wimpole Street on the 31st March 1908, aged 57. She was interred at Kensal Green Cemetery on the 3rd April 1908.

HAMPSTEAD HOME HOSPITAL and NURSING INSTITUTE. – The Council have the honour to announce that the BIENNIAL DINNER, in Aid of the Hospital Funds, will be held at the Hotel Metropole, on Tuesday, the 29th of March, 1892. The following have kindly consented to act as Stewards:- … E.A.Neatby, Esq., M.D. [The Times Thursday March 17th 1892]

London Homeopathic Hospital – The Board of Management gratefully ACKNOWLEDGE the
RECEIPT of 30 guineas, a DONATION from a lady, in memory of “Phil” per Dr. Edwin A. Neatby.
G.A.CROSS. Secretary’s Superintendent. [The Times Tuesday April 3rd 1894]

DEATHS NEATBY – On Tuesday, the 31st March, at 82, Wimpole Street,  W., WINIFRED, wife of EDWIN A. NEATBY. Interred yesterday at Kensal Green Cemetery. [The Times Saturday April 4th 1908]

Edwin married MARY RUTH JONES on the 3rd August 1910 in Hampstead. MARRIAGES NEATBY: JONES. On the 3rd Aug., at St. Peter’s Church, Belsize Park, buy the Rev. W. Pope, curate of
the parish, EDWIN AWDAS NEATBY, M.D., of 82, Wimpole Street, W., to MARY RUTH, eldest daughter of JOHN JONES, 39, Belsize Park Gardens, N.W. [The Times Thursday, Aug 04, 1910]

He died in East Grinstead, Sussex, on the 1st December 1933. He was buried at Mount Noddy Cemetery in East Grinstead on the 6th December.

Edwin’s will was signed in January 1930, and probate was granted at London on the 22 January 1934 to his widow Mary Neatby. Effects valued at £11876 11s 6d. He left the house “Longcar Cottage” and all the contents to his wife. Edwin also made a number of bequests, his sister Lucy Doughty £300. To Miss Katherine Goodin “my faithful co-worker and friend” £300. Miss Bertha Mills “cook in my household for over thirty years” £75.

Select Publications:

Of interest:

Thomas Mossforth Neatby M.D. M.R.C.S. (1835 – 1911), uncle of Edwin Awdas Neatby and father of Thomas Miller Neatby, was an homeopathic physician who practiced in Hampstead and was Assistant Physician at the London Homeopathic Hospital.

Thomas Miller Neatby M.D. M.A. M.R.C.S. L.R.C.P. (21 April 1866 – 30 September 1944), son of Brethren minister and homeopathic physician Thomas Mossforth Neatby (1835 – 1911), was the cousin of Edwin Awdas Neatby, and was also an homeopathic physician. T. Miller Neatby received his Licentiate from the Royal College of Physicians and became a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1904, and in 1909 obtained his M.D. from the University of Cambridge.

Guy Oliver Miller Neatby M.R.C.S. L.R.C.P. (1910 – 2005), followed his father, Thomas Miller Neatby, into the medical profession, became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons (England) and received his Licentiate from the Royal College of Physicians in 1938. He was listed in the Medical Register in 1943 as practicing with his father at 235 Eastern Avenue, Ilford Essex, presumably as an homeopath.

Marion Jean Neatby (1883 – 1945) daughter of Edwin Awdas Neatby:

Marion Jean Neatby was born on the 29th May 1883 at Ventnor in the Isle Of Wight. She was the daughter of Edwin Awdas and Winifred Neatby. Her father was a doctor and surgeon. At the time of the 1901 Census the family are still in Hampstead. Marion is listed as Maria aged 17.

Winifred’s mother died in 1908 and her father married again to Mary Ruth Jones in 1910. The family moved to East Grinstead in East Sussex, although her father continued to have an office in London.

Marion died aged 62 on the 15th August 1945 at Mount Pleasant Clevedon in Somerset. Probate was awarded, on the 20th November 1945 at Llandudno, to her sister Winifred Neatby and cousin Sarah Margaret Cox (of 16 Christchurch Road, Sidcup in Kent). Her estate had a net value of £4025 5s 4d. In her will dated 28th March 1941 she gave all her “personal chattels” to her sister. The rest of the estate was put in trust to give an income to her sister until she died.

When her sister died the following legacies were to be paid: £200 to the London Homeopathic Hospital provided at the date of this legacy is payable the said hospital is still being used for the practise of homepathy. £100 to the Missionary School of Medicine provided at the date of this legacy is payable the said School is still being used for the teaching of homeopathy. £100 to the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society. £100 to the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission. £50 to the Ruanda General & Medical Mission (C.M.S.). £50 to the British & Foreign Bible Society. £50 to the Church Mission to Jews.

She requests that the legacies be used for medical work. The residue of her estate is to provide an income to her cousin Eleanor Shaw Doughty during her liftime then the reside to the China Inland Mission.

Mary Ruth Neatby (nee JONES) (1868 – 1949) the daughter of John Jones. She married Edwin Awdas Neatby on the 3rd August 1910 in Hampstead.

Winifred Neatby (1885 – 1958) daughter of Edwin Awdas Neatby:

Winifred Neatby was born on the 24th June 1885 in Hampstead, North West London. She was the daughter of Edwin Awdas and Winifred Neatby. Her father was a doctor and surgeon. At the time of the 1901 Census the family are still in Hampstead, Winifred is listed as a 15 year old.

Winifred’s mother died in 1908 and her father married again to Mary Ruth Jones in 1910. The family moved to East Grinstead in East Sussex, although her father continued to have an office in London.

Freda went to Canada in 1914 to visit relatives, she spent time with Ada and Andrew Neatby in Saskatoon, but most of the time over about a year, with her second cousin Edith and her husband Oscar Hedlin.

Edith’s sister Kate Nicholl relates the story that during this period Freda met Oscar’s very good looking brother Frans, and they became engaged. Freda decided to go back to England, and embarked on the Lusitania.

She told Kate of the calamitous night – in rushing for the boat deck, she came across an elderly lady struggling her way up the stair, and Freda stopped to give her a hand. The lady told Freda to move on as while the lady’s life was lived, Freda had many years to come. Freda was young and vigorous, and made it into a lifeboat and was rescued. Soon after, she decided against marriage to Frans, and wrote to break off the engagement.

NOTE: The Lusitania departed New York USA for Liverpool, England on 1st May 1915 and was sank by German torpedo on 7th May 1915 off the coast of Ireland, she sank in 18 minutes. Freda was one of the 764 to be saved, unfortunately 1,201 persons perished.

Her father died in 1933 in East Grinstead. Her unmarried sister Marion died aged 62 on the 15th August 1945 at Mount Pleasant Clevedon in Somerset. Freda was an executrice of the estate with her cousin Sarah Margaret Cox. In Marion’s will she gave all her “personal chattels” to Freda. The rest of the estate was put in trust to give an income to her Freda until she died.

When her step mother died in 1949 Winifred remained in the family home “Longcar Cottage”, which by now was also known as 134 Holtye Road. Her step mother’s divided the house and land equally between Winifred and Mary’s nephews Alan Wilson Jones and Anthony Wilson Jones. I presume this was an arrangement to allow Freda to remain in the house.

Freda died on the 7th May 1958 at the Homeopathic Hospital in Tunbridge Wells aged 72. Probate for her estate was granted at London on the 16th July 1958. One of her executors was her cousin Sarah Margaret Cox. Her Effects were valued at £6955 3s and the will was dated the 27th March 1957, she left various legacies and an income to Bertha Mills (who had been the family cook) and her sister Louie Mills of £26 each a year. All the rest of her estate was left to a Margaret Hooper.

She requested in the will that she wanted to be buried at the Neatby family grave no 41615 in Kensal Green Cemetery, although her father and step mother are buried very near to the family home in East Grinstead. She also requested that “my funeral be as simple as possible”.