At St. Thomas' Hospital in London she did her Physiotherapy Training and qualified as an English Physiotherapist in 1935. After two years of general experience in Ipswich and East Sussex Hospital she returned to the St Thomas' Hospital in London as a member of the staff, with the responsability for the students' practical work on different units in turn.
During World War II she was sent to Malta, together with a colleague, to deal with an epidemic of poliomyelitis and to build up the first physiotherapy department on the island. She loved this job. Back in England she worked at the Wingfield Morris Hospital in Oxford, chiefly with Poliomyelitis patients (there were 2 small epidemics in the area). In 1952 she returned again to the St.Thomas' Hospital in London, now in charge of the Neurological Unit. But she was soon longing for a new challenge in an underdeveloped country.
I first met Mary Quinton in 1957, when we both participated in a 3 month course of training in the treatment of Cerebral Palsy, given by Bertha Bobath in London. In Switzerland we had started to build up ambulatory treatment centers for Cerebral Palsy and needed therapists. Mary Quinton was recommended to me by Bertha Bobath. It was then rather hard to convince her that Switzerland, who in her mind had everything, was still underdeveloped in the treatment of handicapped children (but, at the time, countries who had been involved in the war, had more experience in rehabilitation). Finally, she agreed to come for an year to Berne. She arrived in April 1958 and fortunately for Berne and Switzerland, she stayed on.
With great engagement Mary started to treat our children according to the Bobath concept, children of all ages and all degrees of handicap. With her fantasy and creativity she was able to give pleasure and fun during therapy, without neglegting the aim of treatment. This was motivating for the child and the family. From the beginning she had a good contact with the parents, taught them with patience (often taking extra - time for it), integrating therapy into every day life, and always respecting the personality of the child. Many of the children improved considerably.
Our number of cerebral palsied children was growing rapidly. Thus, after a second course and with the blessing of the Bobaths in London, we started already in autumn 1959 our own training courses in (Bobath) Neurodevelopmental Treatment at the Inselspital in Berne. Mary Quinton developed into an excellent teacher. Though being handicapped by the German language, with her Quinton Deutsch and with her expressive body language, she was able to get through to the students. Her engagement with the children, her enthusiasm and her skills were most encouraging for them. Also she spent extra time with those who had difficulties in understanding the new approach.
A new challenge for her was the treatment of young babies. How to adapt the same treatment principles to such tiny beings? She found a way, it was a pioneer achievement, and the results exceeded our expectations. And to our surprise Switzerland became the first country to experience early treatment in a large number of children. Mary remained very appreciative and grateful to Bertha Bobath in London, who had created the basis of this fascinating work.
From 1968 onwards, we were asked to help to build up Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) Courses according to Bobath in other countries, first in Austria and France, later in 1978, also to help with the preparation of NDT instructors in the USA. Many theoretical minded therapists learned from Mary the importance of practical experience. Also we were encouraged to give special courses in early treatment, so-called Baby courses, in Berne, as a supplement to the basic courses. The first ones we gave in 1975. There was soon a great demand for these. And Mary was infatigable in her teaching. It was inspiring to watch her treating, to see the continuous dialogue between therapist and infant, the eye contact with the baby and the dialogue between her hands and the reaction of the child, her creative adaptation to new situations. Very important for her was, that the students learned to feel their own body movements in many situations, normal and abnormal. She had experienced that it was easier for the therapist and also for the parents to learn movements by feeling and not by thinking first. The carry-over of more normal sensorimotor experiences to the child has proved to be more successful in this way.
After her retirement in 1979, Mary was invited to teach basic, refresher and baby courses in many countries. With continued enthusiasm she was teaching in Western and Eastern Europe, especially Slovenia and Poland, and also in USA, Canada, Mexico, Brasil and South Africa. She involved herself deeply in the local problems of the children, their parents and her students.
Gradually, Mary was realizing she had received a wonderful gift in her hands, a gift from God, a joy and obligation at the same time, to use it for the benefit of the children. Through the love of her work and her prayers, she has been able to continue teaching with liveliness and enthusiasm until her recent illness. Besides it, activities with her friends from St. Ursula's Church, fulfilled her spiritual needs.
Mary was a wonderful friend to work with, to find solutions, positive answers, and also enjoying life. We have many happy rewarding memories with friends, colleagues, students and also her family in England. She loved to talk and laugh with people, to tell stories and she had a wonderful humour.
Mary Quinton was awarded the M.B.E. for her lifelong contribution to her profession and pioneer work allover the world. Also she received the Award of Excellence of the American Neurodevelopmental Treatment Association, and as first phyiotherapist the Sunshine Medal, as merit for her significant influence on developmental rehabilitation from Professor Hellbrügge in München, as well as honorary memberships from the European Bobath Tutor's Association and the German Bobath Therapist Association.
May her work, combined with her loving care stay alive and have an impact on future generations.
Dr Elsbeth Köng