The Singers of “Kilmarth”
What’s the connection between Oscar Schindler, some schoolboys collecting seaweed and a best selling novel of 1969? The Answer: Professor Charles Singer and his wife Dorothea. Let me explain…
Born in 1876 Charles Singer had become an eminent medical practitioner but after the Great War decided to concentrate on an academic life. As Professor of the History of Science at University College London he and his wife, Dorothea became the foremost medical historians. By the mid 1930’s though the couple had semi-retired to Cornwall renting Kilmarth, a property overlooking St Austell Bay – in fact on a clear day they could see school!
Born in 1876 Charles Singer had become an eminent medical practitioner but after the Great War decided to concentrate on an academic life. As Professor of the History of Science at University College London he and his wife, Dorothea became the foremost medical historians. By the mid 1930’s though the couple had semi-retired to Cornwall renting Kilmarth, a property overlooking St Austell Bay – in fact on a clear day they could see school!
W V Barritt became friendly with the Singers and accordingly invited Charles to distribute the prizes at the 1936 Speech Day. New to role he remembered his days as a schoolboy listening to long speeches so ended his suddenly after five minutes! Much to the amazement of the platform guests he would not elaborate on his archaeological work at Castle Dore but invited all to a guided tour of the dig. His connection with school was only just beginning though.
Discovered in 1928 penicillin was still not really viable at the outbreak of World War Two and pioneering medical research was needed in haste. In his laboratory the professor experimented with seaweed. He discovered that no ordinary seaweed would do but only a special sort which could be obtained at certain states of the tide only.
Consequently, he alerted Barritt and boys, accompanied by masters, were dispatched to Vault Beach, Gorran Haven and Chapel Point, Mevagissey, to gather sack loads for his experiments.
Discovered in 1928 penicillin was still not really viable at the outbreak of World War Two and pioneering medical research was needed in haste. In his laboratory the professor experimented with seaweed. He discovered that no ordinary seaweed would do but only a special sort which could be obtained at certain states of the tide only.
Consequently, he alerted Barritt and boys, accompanied by masters, were dispatched to Vault Beach, Gorran Haven and Chapel Point, Mevagissey, to gather sack loads for his experiments.
Although Florey and Chain had discovered how to make penicillin into a useable product in 1940 Singer continued his research into the medical properties of seaweed after the war and even in 1946 Brinkworth received a letter of thanks from Mrs Singer.
Away from medicine in the 1930’s the Singers became increasingly preoccupied by the European political situation. Foreseeing escalating problems for Jews Charles became a founder member of the Jewish Liberation Movement and both he and Dorothea devoted much of their time to helping Jewish refugees. As secretary to the Cornwall Refugee Committee, Dorothea vitally put Jewish authorities in Germany in touch with potential hosts in Cornwall. The war years also saw Charles teach biology to refugees (and evacuees from Kings School, Canterbury). Furthermore many young Jews were taken to Kilmarth for Pesach although tending to remember the lady’s monster hearing aids above all else!
Away from medicine in the 1930’s the Singers became increasingly preoccupied by the European political situation. Foreseeing escalating problems for Jews Charles became a founder member of the Jewish Liberation Movement and both he and Dorothea devoted much of their time to helping Jewish refugees. As secretary to the Cornwall Refugee Committee, Dorothea vitally put Jewish authorities in Germany in touch with potential hosts in Cornwall. The war years also saw Charles teach biology to refugees (and evacuees from Kings School, Canterbury). Furthermore many young Jews were taken to Kilmarth for Pesach although tending to remember the lady’s monster hearing aids above all else!
Charles died in June 1960 and Dorothea four years later. Kilmarth’s next tenant was to be novelist Daphne DuMaurier. She took over the tenancy in 1967 and, in the basement, found a mysterious array of test tubes and other scientific paraphernalia. She had discovered Singer’s laboratory and legend has it found the inspiration to write "The House on the Strand", the story about Magnus, the biochemist and a time-travelling drug.
A. L' Rowse's tribute to Charles Singer published in The Times