Instrument Curator
- Originally planned a career in the Metropolitan Police Force but due to an eye injury was unable to do so
- Joined the Army in 1926 and gained much of his early nursing and operating theatre experience in Egypt and Khartoum
- After coming out of the Army he continued his career in nursing at the West Middlesex Hospital gaining experience in the psychiatric general wards
- Married his wife Minnie
- At the outbreak of the Second World War he was recalled to the British Army Medical Corps and saw active service in France; Italy and North Africa. As Sergeant in Charge of the Operating Theatres he learnt to improvise, invent and adapt to a variety of, circumstances, and worked with many famous “Field Surgeons”, including the late Mr. Ruscoe C1ark.
- In the desert with Ruscoe Clarke they designed the Anchor Fixture for Tourniquets
- 1947 came to work at the Acci and be responsible for the medical equipment and. help to run the theatres
- During the years since then he has maintained. a reputation for being able to invent any piece of apparatus that was needed, but not available; “to make or mend anything”
- Many of his friends at the Accident Hospital over the years have expressed concern when they have seen his original ideas patented under other names; but he has never been concerned only saying that he has contributed to “improvements”
- As the years have gone by and. the hospital developed, Mr. Cater had to give up sone of his “active operating theatre duties” in favour of “instrument Curator” ones, as the mechanical equipment and sterile supplies in depts. such as Major Injuries Unit, the Wards, Burns Unit and Theatres increased
- Throughout his career he has worked (together with Prof: Gissane and the Matron Miss Clatworthy in the earlier days of 3AH) to develop the role of the 0perating Theatre Technicians now the British Association of 0DAs, in 1948 and the Diploma Examination.
- He is a Fe1low of the Institute and more recently was asked to join a West Midlands Regional Health Authority working party to set up ODA training in the region and later the National Committee to co-ordinate and supervise the City and Guilds course and examination for ODAs
- Many of the Theatre Technicians and nurses he has helped train have gone to successful careers abroad, in the Health Service and Industry.
- he was made an honorary member of the Institute of Accident Surgery by the Chairman, Mr. Peter London and members of the Institute.