Return to list of doctors                                         next doctor - Bruce Kelly

Charles Gordon Mathews

The son of an Essex clergyman, he qualified in 1895. Dr Mathews bought Winsor House when he came to Bow in 1914. He worked from there for a couple of years in the middle of the First World War during Dr King’s military service. He and his wife also owned Winsor Cottage and the two Sunnyside Cottages next door to Winsor House.

He had married Mary Aisthrop Rolfe Honey in London in 1906 when they were both in their late 30’s. They had no children.

During the war men were called up and could appeal against the decision to serve in the armed forces. There were regular tribunals, where the results were publicised. One man from Exmouth tried to get excused from military service because of his hay fever. The Tribunal Chairman told him “The nearer you get to the Germans, the less hay fever you will get.”

Dr Mathews appealed when his chauffeur and coachman, Wm. James Davey, 36, married, with three children, was called up. Dr Matthews stated that although he drove his car himself he always took his man with him, and it was most important that he should have a man, especially at night. He was medical officer for a large district, and had number of panel patients. Davey had been passed for home service only. It was very difficult, he said, in answer to a question, to get a man outside military age.- The Tribunal granted a month's exemption.

He left Bow in 1917 and as a leaving present he and his wife were given a very handsome pair of antique silver candelabra of very choice design, which had been subscribed for by the parishioners of Bow and the large number of patients from the surrounding parishes.

After they left Bow he worked in a temporary position as children’s medical officer and then went to Weston-Super-Mare, but returned to Bow from time to time to act as locum when Dr Bastard was away. He died in in Weston in 1938, aged 69.