This Is Your Life: Thomas Drake

Thomas DRAKE MBE (1911-?)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Thomas Scatchard Drake, physiotherapist, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre, having been led to believe the programme's subject that evening was a blind girl from Leicester.

Tom, who was born in Castleford, Yorkshire, began his career as a clerk at the Scarborough Spa. Having suddenly gone blind, Tom left his job and, following a period of depression, began to study at the Physiotherapy School of the Royal National Institute for the Blind. After qualifying in 1933, he began private practice in Castleford.

He bought a practice in Liverpool in 1937 and was later employed by the RNIB at the Sunshine Home for Blind Children at Southport. In 1941, the RNIB opened America Lodge in Torquay, a rehabilitation centre for the increasing number of war-blinded civilians and invited Tom to become warden. In 1950, Tom became Principal of the Lodge, along with the newly opened Manor Lodge, which collectively became known as the Queen Elizabeth Homes for Recovery for the Blind.

programme details...

Edition No: 110
Subject No: 110
Broadcast live: Mon 16 Nov 1959
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.05pm
Repeated: Wed 4 Sep 1963 9.25pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 5
Edition: 12

on the guest list...

Dorothy Harrison
Basil Dixon
Steve Fell
Dick Clokie
Ronald Robinson
Annis Robinson
Gwyneth Jones
John Colligan
Ruth Thompson
Leonard Webb
Dorothy - wife
Margaret Crombie
Dr Anthony da Silva
Helen Smith
patients at Manor House, Torquay

production team...

Researcher: Ronald Vivian
Writer: Ronald Vivian
Director: unknown
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

related page...

A Medical Life

examining the medical profession

Series 5 subjects