A commemorative plaque to Dr Laura Sandeman (1862-1929) has been unveiled at 22 Waverley Place in Aberdeen, the location of Dr Sandeman’s former home and GP practice.
The plaque is the first ‘People’ plaque in Aberdeen to be blue, which brings the city into line with other well-known commemorative plaque schemes. A ‘People’ plaque is a round plaque which commemorates the life of an outstanding individual who has contributed to the development of the city, the history of the region or who are of international standing. The plaque commemorating Dr Sandeman has been funded by Aberdeen Women’s Alliance and reads:
Dr Laura Sandeman
1862 – 1929
General Practitioner, social welfare pioneer and Chief Medical Officer of Scottish Women’s Hospital for Foreign Service, lived and worked here.
Dr Sandeman is considered to be a locally and nationally significant figure. Born in Bradshaw, Greater Manchester, she grew up in Perthshire and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. She set up a practice in Aberdeen in 1905 and took an active role in social welfare and helping the plight of the poor, particularly in the east end of the city and in Torry. She worked tirelessly, sometimes refusing payment, to alleviate poverty and suffering, lecturing on child welfare, visiting families, and through her association with many social agencies.
In 1915, during the First World War, Dr Sandeman served with the Scottish Women’s Hospital for Foreign Services as First Medical Officer at Troyes in France. She later became controller of Medical Services to Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps. She also served on the Scottish Board of Health Consultative Council.
She died at Waverley Place on 22 February 1929. A lengthy obituary in the Press & Journal stated: “’The best-loved woman in Aberdeen’ might well be the epitaph of Dr Laura Stewart Sandeman, whose sudden death yesterday from pneumonia, following on influenza, cast a gloom over every household in the city.”
Councillor Miranda Radley, Convener of Aberdeen City Council’s Communities, Housing and Public Protection committee, said, “Dr Laura Sandeman was a highly-regarded doctor in Aberdeen, who worked tirelessly to promote social welfare and to help alleviate poverty and suffering. I’m pleased that Dr Sandeman is being honoured with a commemorative blue plaque.”
Lesley Dunbar of Aberdeen Women’s Alliance said, “It's great Dr Laura Sandeman's contribution to general medical practice and social welfare in Aberdeen is being recognised in this small way with a plaque at her home and GP practice. Dr Sandeman first came to the attention of the Aberdeen Women's Alliance History Group few years ago. A group of older women in Torry told us with pride about the mother and baby clinics she ran in Torry and the East End of Aberdeen for disadvantaged families. The Torry women also mentioned her remarkable achievement becoming the Chief Medical Officer for the Scottish Women's Hospital for Foreign Service during the First World War. Dr Sandeman was truly a pioneer as one of the early women involved in medical practice in Aberdeen and near the battlefields of France.”
Image L-R: Councillor Miranda Radley, Jadine Douglas (Piper Sandler, current occupiers of 22 Waverley Gardens), Dr Hilary Hinton (Honorary Librarian, Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society), Ross MacLennan (Curator, Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums), Lesley Dunbar (Aberdeen Women’s Alliance), Dr Marion White, Chair Med-Chi Heritage Committee, pictured with the plaque to Dr Sandeman at 22 Waverley Gardens.
About the Commemorative Plaques scheme
Aberdeen City Council's commemorative plaques celebrate significant individuals who have lived or worked in Aberdeen. Over 100 plaques recognise the contribution of these individuals to all walks of life.
From the 19th century, plaques have been erected in Aberdeen commemorating people and places which have shaped the city, Scotland or beyond – people who have made outstanding achievements in their field, or buildings or events of historic significance. The City Council has overseen the erection of these plaques since 1978 when the scheme was first developed
Recent plaques to be installed include Sir Alexander Ogston (1844-1929) surgical innovator; Caroline Phillips (1874–1956), suffragette, journalist and honorary secretary of the Women's Social and Political Union, Aberdeen Branch; and GS McLennan (1883-1929), champion piper and noted composer of pipe music.
Anyone can nominate a person for a commemorative plaque. Please contact us for advice before submitting an application:
Phone: +44 (0) 3000 200 293
Email: plaques@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Further guidance on the criteria, process and costs can be found at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/local-history/commemorative-plaques
About Aberdeen Women’s Alliance
The purpose of Aberdeen Women's Alliance is to advance citizenship and promote diversity and equality.
Dr Laura Sandeman is featured in the recently published 'Bringing Life to Aberdeen : A History of Maternity and Neonatal Services in Aberdeen, Luath Press. Edited by Lesley Dunbar, Alison McCall, Fiona Rennie and George Youngson. Available online from the Archie Foundation Shop at www.archie.org
About the Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society
Founded by students in 1789 as the Aberdeen Medical Society, the Med-Chi Society today has over 300 members and continues to play an important role in the medical community, overseeing funding bursaries for student electives, providing access to portraits, artefacts and documents which form a unique record of local, national and international medical developments as well as promoting historical and epidemiological research through the use of its extensive library www.med-chi.co.uk