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Blue plaque for pioneering children's doctor

Matthew Connolly A picture of a terraces stone built house with a blue plaque high on the wall next to the upstairs window Matthew Connolly
Sir James Calvert Spence was born at 94 Queen Street in Amble in a house his father built

A blue plaque has been installed at the home of a pioneering children's doctor.

Professor Sir James Calvert Spence was born in Amble, Northumberland, in 1892 and went on to become a leading expert in child health carrying out major studies into infant mortality and its links to poverty.

He also led the influential Thousand Families Study which traced the health of babies born in Newcastle between May and June 1947 over several decades.

Matthew Connolly, who owns the house where Prof Spence, was born said: "He made such an impact on the health of children and people in Amble should be proud of his connection with the town."

Matthew Connolly A terraced Victoria street running down to the clock tower at AmbleMatthew Connolly
Sir James Calvert Spence was born in 1892 at a time when Amble was growing in size and prosperity

The idea for a blue plaque came after paediatric oncologist Sir Alan Craft gave a talk about the life of Professor Spence at a local history meeting in Amble in 2020.

"It's taken four years but with the support of Newcastle University, and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, along with help from retired Amble GP Dr Paul Creighton, we have finally got to the point of unveiling it," Mr Connolly said.

Matthew Connolly A close up of the blue plaque which describes the achievements of Professor Sir James Calvert Spence Matthew Connolly
It is the first blue plaque to be put up anywhere in Amble

The plaque, on the house at 94 Queen Street, will be unveiled by Prof Spence's granddaughter Dr Jane Elphick on Saturday.

Mr Connolly said there were not as many blue plaques in the North East as "the people and area deserve".

He said: "I hope this, the first in Amble, will encourage others to recognise their history and celebrate the contributions people have made.”

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