Wicken

James Lewis Wicken

James Lewis Wicken was born in Reefton on 26 December 1898.
He was the son of Henry James Wicken, restaurant-keeper,aged 40. Born in Edenbridge, Kent, England.
His mother was Charlotte Elizabeth Herrick , aged 26, was born in Nelson Creek, New Zealand. She was married in Greymouth on February 2nd,1898.
James married Ivy Mable Spittle,27, on 18 March 1925 at the Holy Trinity Church, Gore. Ivy was a nurse/matron. She was born in Dunedin. Their residence was in Farlie.

James’s Education:

Reefton District Primary And High School

Nelson College - (scholarship)

Otago University - graduated 18 July1924 - graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery

Post graduate study in England -1950-1

Career:

Seacliffe Mental Home, Dunedin

Farlie Hospital

1926 - Avondale Hospital , Auckland

1927-57 - Reefton, partnership with Dr Conlon, (private practice). Served wider community for more than 3 decades.Attended men at Inangahua Junction after 1929 earthquake. (Murchison)

Superintendent Inanghua Hospital and Waiuta Hospital

Delivered over 2,000 babies

Family:Charlotte Elizabeth , (Betty)

Margaret Estelle

Henry William, (Harry)

Jessie Lewis

Retired:

1957 from Reefton, to Hokitika for 2 years

Moved to Christchurch and died there on August 8, 1964.

Buried in Reefton

Hobbies :Racing; (a familiar face at race meetings on the West Coast. Dr Wicken owned or part-owned several trotting horses.)

Playing poker

Swimming

Piano playing