Blue Memorial Plaque Unveiling for John Grocott
The Lord Mayor will unveil a blue plaque in memory of John Grocott, a local man from Fenton who was the first in house plastic surgeon outside London and an unsung hero of World War II.
John Grocott FRCS (1910-1992) was a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based at The North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary from 1933 until his retirement in 1975. Born in Heron Street Fenton, John won a scholarship to Guys Medical School in London and became one of the first surgeons in the country to specialise in plastic surgery. He gave 42 years service to the people of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. He is also an un-sung hero of World War II, hundreds of injured service men being treated here by the specialist skills of the medics at the NSRI. 3,000 injured servicemen arrived within 8 months of D Day in June 1944. His story has only recently come to light following the publication of a book, 'Unsung Heroes of Wartime Stoke', by Ros Unwin. The blue plaque is the culmination of 5 years work to tell John's story. Contact for the event: Jane Pugh Email: family.pugh@btinternet.com