| Level | Item |
| Ref No | AUD/002/OHP 30 |
| Title | Spencer, Seymour J.G - Recording |
| Site | Unknown but he was (apparently) 'in his dressing gown' |
| Date | 15 June 2006 |
| Extent | 1-Audio Cassette |
| Description | Audio cassette sound recording of an interview with Dr. Seymour J.G.Spencer (1920-2011), KSG, AFBPsS, FRSM, MRCPsych, FRCPsych for the British Psychological Society's Oral History project.
The interview was conducted by Evelyn Fenton in 2006.
The following summary is by way of introduction to the full recording held at the British Psychological Society's History of Psychology Centre, London.
Performers:
Seymour J.G.Spencer (SS)
Evelyn Fenton (EF)
Topics:
Side A:
EF asks SS to talk of any early experiences which led him to a career in a psychology-related area
SS speaks of the early influence of the Pioneer Health Centre (SS mentions the centre was started by his mother) in Peckham , two Doctors at the Centre George Scott Williamson and Innes Pearse, the centre itself and positive health
SS talks of his education and the Army, how he qualified in General Medicine and his time as staff surgeon in India.
SS then speaks of leaving the army, his hospital training in psychiatry, his medical degree and time at Oxford (1941) before speaking of his work as a general psychiatrist, junior medical officer, NHS registrar at Warneford and Park Hospital and his field training in psychotherapy at Warneford.
SS talks of his enthusiasm for psychotherapy practice, jungianism, Freud, super-ego, archetypes, the spiritual element of jungianism, his religious upbringing and his thoughts on religion before moving on to speak of practising medical-legal psychiatry and his diminished responsibility work.
SS speaks of his time at Warneford (1947 to 1954), including the influential teaching of Paul Gertner?, Robin McInnes (junigian teaching), Ian Scott (non psychotherapeutic) and seminars held at Broadmoor.
SS talks of moving to King's College Medical School, University of Durham, (1954-1958), his
move to become consultant psychiatrist at Exeter, how he met his wife Margaret in Newcastle, his wedding, children, baptism, Scott Russell, John Stallworthy and his experiences training as a doctor at Radcliffe Infirmary.
SS talks of psychologists such as Oldfield, May Davidson and clinical psychology.
SS speaks of Warneford Hospital and his time there from 1961 until retirement in 1982, his locum work after retirement, NHS retirement in 1991 and his mental handicap work.
SS mentions how he joined the BPS in the 1950s, his fellowships, his work with May Davidson [former BPS president] including how they set up the Warneford College.
Side A ends.
c 48min
Side B:
Topics:
SS continues to speak of his time at Warneford then moves on to talk of his research thesis in psychological illnesses of undergraduates, schizophrenia and catatonia.
SS talks of his children and his large family and his time as founder and trustee of the Stammer Trust, and Gerda Wilson.
SS speaks of his research with students, depressive patients, personality disorders, his work in marital therapy, working with psychologists at Warneford, his experiences with
schizophrenia and patients, mental health acts, school for maladjusted boys, early Asperger's syndrome (before it had a name), autism, and his experiences as a visiting psychotherapist at HMP Grendon (for 7 years).
SS talks of future advancements in his field including, neuro-psychiatry, non-analytical forms of psychotherapy, behavioural therapy, the Warneford walk with patients and cognitive therapy.
SS talks of research, his community work, his out-patients work and how he became a jack of many psychiatric trades.
EF thanks SS for talking to us and the interview ends.
Side B ends
c 47 mins.
Total Running Time: c 94mins
Note: Poor quality recording.
Summary by Mike Maskill, BPS Archivist. |
| RunTime | On one SQC cassette, running time c 94 minutes |
| Format | Cassette Tapes and text |
| Notes | The History of Psychology Centre is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our users. Be aware that our catalogue contains historic terminology relating to mental health which could be considered offensive. The terminology exists within the original record and has been retained to inform users on viewpoints at the time. It in no way reflects the attitudes of the cataloguers or the British Psychological Society. |
| Language | English |
| AccessConditions | Authorised Users. View by Appointment.
Note: Though Dr S J G Spencer agreed to be interviewed for the Oral History project the attached transfer and deposit form was not signed by him, therefore issue with care. |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| Location | 13: BPS History of Psychology Centre, London |
| AdminHistory | Date of Birth: 04/05/1920
Place of Birth: London
Died 27 May 2011
University and Professional Training:
BA (Oxon), 1941
MA (Oxon), 1947
BM., BCh. (Oxon), 1943
DM (Oxon), 1958
DPM (University of London), 1951
MRCPsych, 1971
FRCPsych, 1975
Other Honours and Awards:
Associate of the BPS (nd)
Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (nd)
Knight of St George (KSG) Papal Knighthood (nd)
Professional career:
Junior House Surgeon (Gynaecological), Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford 1943
House Physician (Cardiology and General Medicine), 1944
British Royal Army Medical Corps, Captain, 1944-1947
Postgraduate trainee in Psychiatry, Warneford and Park Hospitals, Oxford 1947
Assistant Medical Officer, Warneford and Park Hospitals, Oxford 1947 to 1951
Senior Registrar in Psychiatry, Warneford and Park Hospitals, Oxford 1951-1954
First Assistant, Dept.of Psychological Medicine, King's College Medical School, University of Durham, 1954-1958
Consultant Psychiatrist, Exeter Clinical Area and Psychiatrist to Torbay Hospital, Torquay, Devon, 1958-1961
Consultant Psychiatrist to the Oxfordshire Health Authority, Warneford Hospital Oxford, 1961
Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry, University of Oxford since 1962
Present Posts:
Honorary Consulting Psychiatrist, Oxfordshire Health Authority
Locum Consultant Psychiatrist, Oxfordshire Health Authority
Visiting Psychiatrist, Our Lady of Victory, Brownhill
Psychiatrist to Swalcliffe Park
Consultant Psychiatrist to Ampleforth College
Medical member of Oxford and Wessex Mental Health Review Tribunal
Visiting Psychotherapist, HM Prison Grendon.
Involvement with BPS and/or other societies and organisations:
Associate of the British Psychological Society (nd)
Graduate member BPS West Midlands Branch |
| Copyright | Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation. Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Head of the History of Psychology Centre and Archives and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material. |
| Rules | Description compiled in line with the following: ISAD (G) General International Standard Archival Description MAD3 Third Edition 2000. |
| ArchNote | Compiled by Mike Maskill BPS Archivist for the History of Psychology Centre. |