Our History Willcocks Engineering Bristol UK precision engineers, tooling, prototypes, assembly aids, test rigs

The Clevedon ventilator was designed by Dr James Macrae and his colleagues at Ham Green Hospital in 1953 to treat life-threatening poliomyelitis. With the financial approval of the South West Regional Hospital Board, and the expert assistance of Mr M. J. Willcocks, of Willcocks Engineering (Clevedon) Ltd, a prototype was produced.

Although a Clevedon has not been used for many years now at either Southmead or Ham Green Hospitals, one was in constant use until 1992 by Dr Ted Nesling in the anaesthetic room of the neurosurgical theatre at Plymouth.

One remaining ventilator is housed in the Monica Britton Memorial Hall for the History of Medicine at Frenchay Hospital , Bristol.