Dr Harry Guy Dain was the local GP and a member of St Stephen’s. He was born in 1870 and was one of the six children of Major Dain, a draper, and Marjorie Weaver. Always known as Guy, he was educated by the King Edward VI Foundation and then went to Mason College, the Medical Department of Queen’s College, to study science and medicine.
By 1895 he had set up his own medical practice in a house on the corner of Alton Road and Bristol Road. This is now called the Varsity Practice and the extension block of flats there is called Dain Court after him.
Guy Dain was a well-known and well-liked local figure. He did his medical visits by horse and cart or by bicycle and managed to combine being a GP with membership, and later chairmanship, of the British Medical Association. As Chairman (1943-1949) he became known nationally as he led the BMA’s fierce opposition to Aneurin Bevan, MP, and the proposed National Health Service.
Guy Dain lost the battle over the NHS but continued to work until he was 90 in 1960; although by this time he had some partners in the practice. He was also a sidesman and Vice Chairman of the PCC at St Stephen’s. A year after his retirement he was knighted for his services to medicine.
In 1966 Sir Guy died and a newly enlarged meeting room, built behind St Stephen’s, was called The Dain Room in memory of him.
