A new Blue Plaque will be unveiled later this month to honour Amelia Le Pelley, the first woman to practise medicine in Guernsey and one of the earliest women from the Channel Islands to qualify as a doctor.
The plaque will be placed at Queen's Road Medical Practice, formerly the site of The Ladies' College, where Amelia was educated in the 1880s. It will be unveiled by the Deputy Bailiff Jessica Roland at 1pm on Saturday 27th June, and members of the public are invited to attend.
The plaque marks the 20th installation in the Guernsey Blue Plaques scheme, which is administered by Guernsey Museums, and celebrates individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Bailiwick and beyond.
Born in 1869, Amelia Le Pelley overcame the considerable barriers facing women in medicine during the late 19th century. After being educated at The Ladies' College, she studied at the London School of Medicine for Women, graduating in 1896. She was the first woman from the Channel Islands to do so.
Amelia returned to Guernsey in 1899 and practised locally, becoming the island's first female doctor (preceding previously credited Mary Sinclair by three months). After leaving Guernsey, she built a distinguished career in Nottingham, where she became known as an 'exceedingly popular' doctor and a respected contributor to advancements in women's health and anaesthesia.
Students from The Ladies' College were instrumental in launching the nomination process for the plaque. Through in-depth research, they explored Amelia's life and accomplishments, putting forward a thorough case for her recognition, which included insights into her education and her distinguished medical career in Guernsey and beyond. Together with Queen's Road Medical Practice, students have raised funds to support the installation through a cake sale and a mufti-day.
Morag Herring, Vice Principal and Head of Senior School, The Ladies' College, said:
"Amelia Le Pelley's story is an important part of both Guernsey's history and The Ladies' College's own story. At a time when opportunities for women in medicine were incredibly limited, Amelia Le Pelley pursued a career that few women could. Her determination and ambition remain highly relevant to our students today. It is fitting that the plaque is placed at Queen's Road, where the College was once based, recognising Amelia's important contribution to island life."
Rob Jordan, Practice Manager for Queen's Road Medical Practice, said:
"We are delighted to have this Blue Plaque placed on our building, recognising a woman whose story deserves to be far better known.
Records from 1901 describe her simply as a 'physician and surgeon.' Those words may sound simple, but they represent something remarkable. They mark her as one of the earliest women from this island to enter and practise in the medical profession. For many years, her story was not widely known, but this plaque is about putting that right.
As a working surgery, the care we provide every day is part of a long and evolving story of medicine - one that Amelia Le Pelley herself helped to shape. This plaque is a permanent reminder of her life, her determination and her contribution."
Find out more about Guernsey's Blue Plaque System, how it works and who has one.
