Walter Fell Explained

Walter Fell
Birth Date:28 March 1855
Birth Place:Sunnyside, Nelson, New Zealand
Death Place:Māhina Bay, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Children:5
Module:
Child:yes
no
Work Institutions:Wellington Hospital
Specialism:Surgery
Module2:
Embed:yes
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:Royal Army Medical Corps
Branch Label:Branch
Serviceyears:1914–1918
Rank:Major
Battles:World War I
Battles Label:War

Walter Fell (28 March 1855 – 22 November 1932) was a New Zealand physician and surgeon.

Early life and education

Fell was born on 28 March 1855 at his parents' house Sunnyside in Nelson, New Zealand.[1] [2] His parents were Fanny and Alfred Fell. He was their sixth child and fifth son. His brothers included Charles, who was the eldest, George, also an older sibling, and Arthur, the next-oldest after George. Two more siblings were born in New Zealand before the family decided to return to England for better educational opportunities; they left in January 1859. Once in England, one more sister was born. He received his education at Rugby School and at University College, Oxford. He studied medicine at St Thomas' Hospital in London, where he gained a Doctor of Medicine.[3] His 1895 doctoral thesis was The Evolution of Disease.[4]

Professional career

Walter Fells' brothers Charles and George had returned to permanently live in New Zealand in 1870 and 1871, respectively. In 1884, he was the third and last of the children to return to New Zealand permanently. He joined William Collins in his Wellington practice in February 1884.[5] He was honorary surgeon at Wellington Hospital from 1887 to 1890, then honorary physician from 1890 to 1892, and again honorary surgeon from 1893 to 1907. Fell retired in 1907. From 1906 to 1911, he was the editor of The New Zealand Medical Journal. During World War One, he went to England as an army doctor. After a variety of assignments, he worked at the Bethnal Green Soldiers' Hospital and gained the rank of major.

Family and interests

During his professional career, Fell lived in Wellington at 107 Willis Street.[6] In 1910, he moved to the eastern side of Wellington Harbour to an area belonging to Lower Hutt, where he was one of the first residents. An avid sailer, Fell had a yacht Mahina. The house he had built was also called Mahina. This name was adopted for both the locality and its bay, and Māhina Bay became the official name of the suburb.[7] Fell served as president for both the Port Nicholson Yacht Club and the Star Boating Club. Fell took up painting in his middle years. He was one of the original members of the Wellington Art Club in 1892. From 1900 to 1909, he was president of the NZ Academy of Fine Arts. Some of his work is in The Suter Art Gallery and his work was exhibited at the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition in 1940.[8]

On 26 April 1886 at St Paul's Church in Wellington, Fell married Margaret (Margie) Richmond. She was the daughter of judge William Richmond, and the niece of Maria and Arthur Atkinson. William Collins was groomsman. The wedding reception was held at judge Richmond's house and afterwards, the couple left for a honeymoon at Rotorua to visit the various lakes.[9] Their son William Richmond Fell became a naval officer.[10]

Fell died at his home on 22 November 1932. He was survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters. He was buried at Karori Cemetery in Wellington.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mildon . Richard . Sunnyside and the Fells . The Prow . 19 November 2022 . May 2020.
  2. News: Birth . 19 November 2022 . . XIII . 722 . 28 March 1855 . 2.
  3. News: Dr. Walter Fell . 19 November 2022 . . LXVIII . 20713 . 25 November 1932 . 21.
  4. Web site: Walter Fell . Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley. 19 November 2022.
  5. News: Untitled . 19 November 2022 . Marlborough Daily Times . VI . 1111 . 8 February 1884 . 2.
  6. Web site: Morrell . Vivienne . Scenes of Victorian and Edwardian life . viviennemorrell . 19 November 2022 . 1 November 2015.
  7. Web site: Fell, Walter, 1855-1932 . . 19 November 2022.
  8. Book: Platts, Una . Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook . Una Platts . Avon Fine Prints . Christchurch . 1980.
  9. News: Fashionable wedding in Wellington . 19 November 2022 . . XXXV . 7053 . 29 April 1886 . 3.
  10. Web site: William Richmond Fell . . 19 November 2022.
  11. Web site: Walter Fell . . 19 November 2022.