21 June 2024 (Last updated: 21 Jun 2024 15:52)
This article shares letters donated to BSSH archive by Frank Burke that add detail and colour to the origins of our society. Most members will know that the early history of hand surgery in the United Kingdom included the formation of both the Hand Club and the Second Hand Club. The Hand Club first met on November 7th 1952 with an agreed purpose “to stimulate interest in hand surgery”. It initially consisted of 8 members (4 Plastic Surgeons’ 4 Orthopaedic Surgeons) and gradually grew to a maximum of 12 members. Guy Pulvertaft, the first BSSH President, was one of the key player in the Hand Club.
A younger group of surgeons with an interest in hand surgery led by Graham Stack and Stewart Harrison were unsuccessful in their attempts to join the Hand Club. As a result, they formed the Second Hand Club, which had its first meeting in Derby on the 11th May 1956. This group gradually evolved to become British Society for Surgery of the Hand in 1968.
The reasons why the Hand Club did not wish to expand to include younger members are largely lost in the mists of time. Fisk (JHS-BR 1990 15B) states that the Hand Club “tended to be a closed and inward looking society”. JIP James, an original member of the Hand Club, as quoted by Nicholas Barton that “he regarded the Hand Club as very unimportant with no discussion about forming a Hand Society” (JHS- Br & Eu 1998 23B 711-723)
The letters below add detail to the efforts of Guy Pulvertaft and Graham Stack to the guide the development of hand surgery during the key period of late 1955 to early 1956. They reveal that their efforts to open up the Hand Club to younger members were unsuccessful, resulting the formation of the Second Hand Club.
Letter 1 - Guy Pulvertaft to Graham Stack
Letter 2 - Application of young hand surgeons to join the Hand Club
Letter 3 – Letter from Guy Pulvertaft regarding the first meeting of the Second Hand Club
Letter 4 – Guy Pulvertaft to Stewart Harrison
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Letter 5 – Guy Pulvertaft to Patrick Clarkson (main instigator of the Hand Club)
Letter 6 – Guy Pulvertaft to Stewart Harrison (confirmation that the Hand Club did not wish to expand)
Letter 7 – Invite to the second meeting of what was to become BSSH
Overall, the letters confirm that Graham Stack, supported by Stewart Harrison were the main drivers to the formation and subsequent development of the Second Hand Club. They also reveal that the strong support of Guy Pulvertaft and his vision and diplomacy, which succeeded in furthering the cause of hand surgery in the United Kingdom.
His foreword to The Second Hand Club book (HG Stack & H Bolton published by BSSH in 1975) reveals his own personal perspective of events. He describes the original meeting of the Hand Club being at the invitation of Patrick Clarkson, Plastic Surgeon, Guy’s Hospital & Roehampton. They met on an annual basis for 12 years with the membership gradually increasing from 8 to 12. He felt the closed, invitation only nature of the club allowed open criticism of clinical matters but acknowledged the lack of regard for younger surgeons also seized by the fascination of hand surgery
Describing the formation of The Second Hand Club, he notes that there were fears of some rivalry between the two clubs. However, these fears were confounded as close friendship and respect developed leading to a joint meeting in November 1958 under the Chairmanship of Sir Archibald McIndoe. The two clubs continued to meet annually in addition to their own separate annual meetings. This is the historical basis of our two scientific meetings per year. In 1964, the two clubs merged to become the British Club for Surgery of the Hand, which in 1968 became BSSH
The eight original members of The Hand Club had many things in common. They had all seen military service in the Second World War and all were generalists with many surgical accomplishments outside hand surgery. By the early 1960’s most were reaching the end of their careers. Perhaps we should remember them for their vision as pioneers of hand surgery in the UK and forgive them for not wishing to take the development of hand surgery further. Indeed, they had the foresight to leave that to individuals with the drive of Guy Pulvertaft and Graham Stack. They deserve their place in the history of BSSH, which I will cover in my next article.
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