| Description | Dr Charles Gowdey and Sir John Vane first met in the mid 1940s, when Dr Gowdey came to work and study in Professor Harold Burn's department at Oxford, alongside Sir John Vane. Dr Gowdey returned to Canada in 1948, where he took up a post at the University of Western Ontario; although he spent no more than two years at Oxford, it is evident from their correspondence that he and Sir John Vane became very close friends, as did their respective wives, Madelon (Peggy) and Daphne. Dr Gowdey later returned to England on sabbatical in 1969, where he spent a year working alongside Sir John Vane at the Royal College of Surgeons, which served to further deepen the friendship between Dr Gowdey, Sir John Vane and their respective families.
The strength and depth of their friendship is evident in this large file of correspondence, which is contains news and stories about their families, colleagues and fellow scientists, and details of their attempts to meet as often as their schedules and travels would permit. The correspondence in the file also refers to the work and research undertaken by both men, including the management and running of their departments, and it contains references to the numerous scientists who worked alongside and under them, including graduate students. Researchers should note that the correspondence between Sir John Vane and Dr Gowdey ends in 1984, although the file contains a pamphlet detailing the new 'Charles W Gowdey Distinguished Lectures Series', established in 1988.
The file includes the following selected items: a letter from Sir John Vane regarding his superfusion technique and its development (April 1962); a large amount of correspondence relating to Dr Gowdey's planned sabbatical in England (1968 - 1969); correspondence concerning the work undertaken during Dr Gowdey's sabbatical, in particular his work on the release of bradykinin and the construction of an infusion pump by Sir John Vane's technicians (1970 - 1971); correspondence regarding Dr Gowdey and John Eble's paper on 5HT (1970 - 1971); a letter from Sir John Vane concerning his work with anti-inflammatory drugs and the mechanism of aspirin (11 June 1971); correspondence regarding the publication of a paper in 'Nature' by Dr Gowdey, concerning the results of his work on ketamine and his use of the 'Vane technique' (June 1972); a letter from Sir John Vane about the relationship between bradykinin, prostaglandins and pain, and the anticipated arrival of Dr Pedro Cuatrecasas in his department (10 March 1975); correspondence regarding Vitamin E, its use and possible clinical trials involving Vitamin E (September - November 1977); and a copy of the personal address written by Sir John Vane on the occasion of Dr Gowdey's retirement (April 1981).
In addition, the file contains several letters written by Dr Gowdey's wife, Peggy, and instances where Peggy has added comments or brief notes to Dr Gowdey's letters. Peggy Gowdey's letters largely concern the practical arrangements of moving to England for Dr Gowdey's sabbatical (1969), but the file also includes a personal and emotional letter written by Peggy to Sir John Vane, concerning Dr Gowdey (15 September 1973). |