Pioneering Wigan surgeon celebrates her 90th birthday
Kate Fussell marked the milestone birthday with a special celebration organised by the local Soroptimists, an organisation she has also been involved with for decades.
Born in Bristol in 1929, she was accepted to read medicine at Birmingham University aged just 17 and came to Wigan in 1970 to become consultant surgeon general.
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Hide AdAt the time she was one of just six female surgeons in the country but had always shown impressive determination to break down barriers.
She said: “I did not think much of the physics and chemistry teaching at my first school, so I persuaded my dad to send me to an all boys school where the science teaching was better.”
Before arriving in the borough she spent five years working in New York City and credited that Stateside experience with helping her land the top job at Wigan Infirmary.
She went on to perform a series of top NHS roles, including chairing the medical executive committee and the area medical committee.
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Hide AdHer incredible career was also recognised by Wigan Council in 2000 when she was one of 10 notable borough residents made freemen of the borough as part of the millennium celebrations.
Hospital trust chief executive Andrew Foster said: “On behalf of everyone at WWL, I would like to wish Kate a very happy 90th birthday and thank her for her tremendous contribution to our local health services.
“She was a key figure in some major transformations within the Trust.”
Miss Fussell joined the Soroptimists International, the women’s professional association, in 1971 and was a driving force for the organisation in Wigan for many years.
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Hide AdShe was club president twice, South Lancashire president and in charge of the federation of Great Britain and Ireland in 1986.
At the time the federation covered 17 countries, mostly Commonwealth members, and Miss Fussell visited 14 in her year at president, travelling to the Canadian High Arctic and Antarctic.
She and four friends celebrated her milestone birthday in Cheshire and the day took a poignant turn when the group met a retired Wigan Infirmary night nurse matron who knew Miss
Fussell by reputation but had never met her, the two spending some time reminiscing.
She was also named a Lady of Substance by The Lady magazine in 2015.