Dr Tangye School Dentist Bill Cooper October 2025
During the 1940s, there were periodic visits by the School Dentist. The gent himself was a very figure of dread called Mr Tangye, who always arrived on an autocycle (a version of today's electric ones). Following his initial visit, everyone had to take home a form for parents to sign giving consent to the dental treatment or otherwise. And woe betide if the answer was “No”.
Subsequently, a chair and equipment would be delivered to the headmaster’s office and your name would be called in class for treatment. I remember my turn being called and the result was one filling and two extractions, then back to class and carrying on with the lesson. Followed by home to lunch as normal!
There was a rumour that Maureen screamed out and kicked him. I don’t know if it was true but good for you, Maureen. even if only half of it was accurate. Such things just could not happen today.
Subsequently, a chair and equipment would be delivered to the headmaster’s office and your name would be called in class for treatment. I remember my turn being called and the result was one filling and two extractions, then back to class and carrying on with the lesson. Followed by home to lunch as normal!
There was a rumour that Maureen screamed out and kicked him. I don’t know if it was true but good for you, Maureen. even if only half of it was accurate. Such things just could not happen today.
Claude Edward Tangye (1877-1952)
Dr Claude Tangye was the County Medical Officer who lived at Westwood, Bradford-on-Avon in the 1940s. He was born in Redruth, Cornwall, and trained in medicine in London and in Public Health at Birmingham University in the early 1900s. During the First World War he served as a Temporary Lieutenant and spent much of his later working life in the Warwickshire in senior medical roles including County Medical Officer.[1]
Claude came from a famous Birmingham engineering family of five brothers who started an engineering company specialising in hydraulic rams and pumps in 1858 which controlled the launch of Brunel’s SS Great Eastern that year.[2] In later years the company specialised in making steam engines and gas and oil engines.
In 1919 Claude was appointed Medical Officer of Health for Wiltshire with a particular interest in the problems of inadequate housing affecting children’s health.[3] In 1928 he was appointed an advisor of Maternal Mortality.[4] His annual report of 1933 covered a wide variety of children’s issues – malnutrition, tooth hygiene, lack of adequate shoes, and lack of child cleanliness.[5] In 1939 he dealt with 285 schools and an average of 21,371 children.[6] By the Second World War he was rapidly approaching retirement age and served his duty on the Home Front trying to manage medical and dentistry matters for the county of Wiltshire. He was awarded a CBE (Military) for his services to Civil Defence in 1944.[7] Claude returned to St Mawes, Cornwall, after the war and died at Truro Hospital in 1952.
Dr Claude Tangye was the County Medical Officer who lived at Westwood, Bradford-on-Avon in the 1940s. He was born in Redruth, Cornwall, and trained in medicine in London and in Public Health at Birmingham University in the early 1900s. During the First World War he served as a Temporary Lieutenant and spent much of his later working life in the Warwickshire in senior medical roles including County Medical Officer.[1]
Claude came from a famous Birmingham engineering family of five brothers who started an engineering company specialising in hydraulic rams and pumps in 1858 which controlled the launch of Brunel’s SS Great Eastern that year.[2] In later years the company specialised in making steam engines and gas and oil engines.
In 1919 Claude was appointed Medical Officer of Health for Wiltshire with a particular interest in the problems of inadequate housing affecting children’s health.[3] In 1928 he was appointed an advisor of Maternal Mortality.[4] His annual report of 1933 covered a wide variety of children’s issues – malnutrition, tooth hygiene, lack of adequate shoes, and lack of child cleanliness.[5] In 1939 he dealt with 285 schools and an average of 21,371 children.[6] By the Second World War he was rapidly approaching retirement age and served his duty on the Home Front trying to manage medical and dentistry matters for the county of Wiltshire. He was awarded a CBE (Military) for his services to Civil Defence in 1944.[7] Claude returned to St Mawes, Cornwall, after the war and died at Truro Hospital in 1952.
References
[1] London Gazette 4 January 1917 and The Coleshill Chronicle, 30 May 1914
[2] See Tangyes - Graces Guide
[3] The Wiltshire News, 2 November 1919
[4] Royal Leamington Spa and Warwickshire Standard, 8 June 1928
[5] The Wilts Herald, 2 June 1933
[6] The Wiltshire News, 2 June 1939
[7] The Wiltshire News, 7 January 1944
[1] London Gazette 4 January 1917 and The Coleshill Chronicle, 30 May 1914
[2] See Tangyes - Graces Guide
[3] The Wiltshire News, 2 November 1919
[4] Royal Leamington Spa and Warwickshire Standard, 8 June 1928
[5] The Wilts Herald, 2 June 1933
[6] The Wiltshire News, 2 June 1939
[7] The Wiltshire News, 7 January 1944