A HISTORIC portrait of an eminent physician has been donated to the University of Worcester.
Dr Jonas Malden was a senior physician at Worcester Royal Infirmary for 43 years before he retired in 1857.
He also instigated the creation of the British Medical Association (BMA) in 1832 which originally started out as the Provincial Medical Association.
Dr Malden's family donated a portrait of their ancestor to hang in the Board Room of the University's Charles Hastings building.
Many of Dr Malden's family have also followed in his footsteps by becoming doctors too.
The creation of BMA was credited as being founded by Dr Malden's junior physician, Charles Hastings.
The portrait was being passed through the family for many years, but now they feel as though it is time to pass on the portrait to the University of Worcester.
John Malden, great great great nephew of Dr Jonas Malden, said: "I was given the portrait in 1972 Uncle Jonas has looked down kindly on us since then.
"However, now we are downsizing we wanted to find a suitable home for the portrait.
"His lifelong commitment to the Worcester Royal Infirmary and the fact that he is buried in St Oswald’s, Foregate Street, meant that the University, which has restored the Infirmary, now the Charles Hastings building, was the most suitable place.”
Mr Malden said: "I had not realised that two-thirds of the University courses are related to medicine and health.
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"I am most grateful to the University for accepting the portrait and making my wife and I so welcome on the occasion of the unveiling of the portrait.”
Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University, said he was delighted to accept the portrait on behalf of the University.
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“Dr Jonas Malden was a prominent medical doctor in Worcester,” he said. “We are delighted to have his portrait for exhibition and to connect with a vital component of the rich history of the City and County. We are very grateful to John Malden and the wider Malden family for this generous gift.”
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