Bust of Dame Louisa Brandreth Aldrich-Blake

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This bronze bust portrays Dame Louisa Brandreth Aldrich-Blake, a pioneering British woman who broke into the field of medicine. Born on 15 August 1865 in Chingford, Essex, to a curate father, she was the eldest daughter. Aldrich-Blake graduated from Royal Free Hospital in 1893 and went on to earn her Master of Surgery by 1910. By then, she had already established herself as a leading surgeon. Throughout World War I, Aldrich-Blake volunteered frequently. She also made history by performing pioneering surgeries on rectal and cervical cancers. For her dedication throughout her career, Dame Louisa Aldrich-Blake has been honored with a statue in Tavistock Square, London, near her alma mater. This double-sided monument features two identical bronze busts of the renowned doctor, both holding a book. On either side of the monument are depictions of the Rod of Asclepius, an intertwined staff and serpent that serves as a long-standing symbol for the medical profession. The base and curved seat were designed by Edwin Lutyens, the architect behind the Cenotaph, while the identical bronze busts were crafted by Arthur George Walker. Erected in 1926, a year after Dame Aldrich-Blake's death, the monument stands proudly in Tavistock Square, home to the British Medical Association headquarters in BMA House. In addition to highlighting her medical achievements, the monument bears an inspiring inscription: "The path of the just is as the shining light".