Wednesday 27 January 2010

Dr Roger Raymond Sellman


Dr & Mrs R. R. Sellman
Pound Down Corner
Whitestone
Exeter EX 42HP
Devon
England

(Phone Tedburn St Mary 293)

Dr R. R. Sellman was a British historian, author and editor. He was my mother's tutor when she was attending the Malayan Teachers' Training College at Kirkby near Liverpool, England in 1952-1954. They have never stopped corresponding after my mother left Kirkby College. My mother passed away in June 2004. My father passed away in 2009. I have not communicated with Dr R. R. Sellman since my parents passed away.

Pack of photos from Mr Sellman, 1964-67

A card my mother had received from Roger Raymond Sellman and Mia Sellman

Had it not been for a chance meeting with Dr RR Sellman at his home at Pound Down Corner in Exeter during my brief 9-day visit to England in August 1980, I would not have continued writing TEMD with the fervour I did and to this end.

Dr Sellman's strong words when he advised me to quit biochemistry right away and start write Malaysian history at age 21, continued to linger in my mind for another 22 years before I actually commenced writing on History of Medicine.

His advice always came back during times when I faced writers' block and was the major driving force which pushed me to continue writing TEMD for 7 years till it was completed in October 2009!

Who was he, really? My mother told me that he had written on British history (she gave me no further details before she died). I searched further today (29 January 2010) and found more on him. I researched him again today (16 September 2022) and found his date of demise was 1999.

Here are 2 links for Dr RR Sellman's books:
http://openlibrary.org/a/OL4370705A/R._R._Sellman?books_page=0
http://www.librarything.com/author/sellmanrr


http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n50007272/?fbclid=IwAR1w_V1r8lX75srNduZE6AscELwzw_DpzwmQfbzWTPhEmymX8zT88CE18JM

His name is Dr Roger Raymond Sellman (Dr R. R. Sellman). He was born on 24 September 1915. He died aged 84 in (Sept/Oct/Nov) 1999.

Mrs Sellman (her name is Mia) kept her black poodle named Twiggy, in the toilet when I visited them. It gave me a fright when I entered the toilet and Twiggy started barking from inside the bath tub! Mrs Sellman also made my favourite bread-and-butter pudding for my visit. She used fresh cow's milk, which was delivered to her doorstep.

Photos at Pound Down Corner, Exeter (August 1980):
(obtained from my dad's pendrive after he died in March 2009)
Left to right: myself, Mrs Sellman (Mia), my mother and Dr R. R. Sellman (Roger Sellman). Their house is in the background. August 1980.

Left to right: Mr Gurney (with tie) and his dog, Dr R. R. Sellman and Mrs Sellman.

Sitting in front row from left: The Gurneys with their dog, Dr R. R.  Sellman & Mrs Sellman. I am standing with my parents. This was in the living-room, facing a large picture window.

The Gurneys
4 Langaller Close
Bovey Tracey
Newton Abbot
Devon TQ13 9EB
(Phone Bovey Tracey 832728)