| AdminHistory | Administrative History
Dr Henry Joseph O'Brien, born in Ireland c.1863, came to East London in the 1880s, having trained at the Catholic University in Dublin, and was divisional surgeon at the K (Limehouse) Division of the Metropolitan Police from c.1899 to 1919 [see the East London Advertiser for 31 May 1919 for an account of his retirement presentation]. He was a friend of Canon Timothy Ring (parish priest of St Mary and St Michael's, Commercial Rd) and Canon Thomas Doyle (parish priest of St Mary and St Joseph's, Poplar). The Post Office Directory for 1889 lists him at 96, East India Dock Road, where he remained until shortly before his death on 29 September 1942, aged 78, at Hillingdon Court, Hillingdon. He was buried at St.Patrick's Cemetery, Leytonstone. [See the East End News for 9 October 1942 for his obituary].
Dr Cornelius Cotter, born in Ireland c.1896, was the son of Eugene Cotter of Blarney, Co Cork, and came to Poplar in 1924, having previously served as a surgeon in the Navy. He married Hylda O'Brien, daughter of Dr. Henry Joseph O'Brien, in 1924, and was in general practice with Dr O'Brien at 96 East India Dock Road. In addition he held a number of other posts, including that of Chairman of the Tower Hamlets Division of the British Medical Association for eight years. After the house in East India Dock Road was badly damaged by a bomb in World War II, he moved to Bickley Lodge, Lee Green, SE12, and died (aged 47) in May 1943, being buried in Eltham Cemetery [See the East End News for 21 May 1943 for his obituary]. |