Sir David Rodney Sweetnam (1927–2013), known as Rodney, was a British

orthopaedic surgeon Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternatively spelt orthopaedics), is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...

Early life

Sweetnam was born on 5 February 1927, in Wimbledon, south London, to Irene (née Black), a former medical student, and William Sweetnam, a GP. He was educated at

Clayesmore School Clayesmore School is an independent school for boys and girls, aged 2 – 18 years, in the village of Iwerne Minster, Dorset, England. It is both a day and boarding school and is a member of The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (H ...

Career

From 1950 to 1952 he undertook

National Service National service is the system of voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939. The ...

as a surgeon-lieutenant aboard . From 1974 to 1992 he was consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the

Middlesex Hospital Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, England. First opened as the Middlesex Infirmary in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally clos ...

and at

University College Hospital University College Hospital (UCH) is a teaching hospital in the Fitzrovia area of the London Borough of Camden, England. The hospital, which was founded as the North London Hospital in 1834, is closely associated with University College Lond ...

, becoming emeritus upon retirement. He was also a consultant adviser in orthopaedic surgery to the United Kingdom's

Department of Health A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their ow ...

from 1981 to 1990. He was orthopaedic surgeon to

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

(1982–92) and president of the

Royal College of Surgeons The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations a ...

(1995–98). He was also president of the British Orthopaedic Association (1985); and a Fellow of

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

. He was made a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) in the 1990 New Year Honours and a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the

1992 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1992 were appointments by most of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, and honorary ones to citizens of other countri ...

. He died on 17 May 2013.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sweetnam, Rodney 1927 births 2013 deaths British orthopaedic surgeons Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians Royal Navy officers People educated at Clayesmore School