Madeleine Sharp

Madeleine Agnes Sharp (July 1920 – 7 January 2014) was a British physician and peace campaigner. She was known for her work to provide medical and scientific aid to Vietnam and as a general practitioner in Coventry.

Early life and education Sharp was born in London and grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne. She also spent a lot of time in Gourock with her grandparents, where she acquired a Scottish accent. where she witnessed the beginnings of Partition, the horrors of which led to her later passionate anti-war campaigning.

After World War II, Sharp obtained a newly released National Health Service grant to study medicine at Edinburgh University.

Career and campaigning After qualifying, Sharp took a job as a locum at a general practice in Coventry, which then became a permanent role. She became a partner and later senior partner at the practice and worked there for 30 years.

Sharp was the chair of the City of Coventry Lord Mayor's Peace Committee and was responsible for attracting speakers including Ted Heath, Mo Mowlam and Harold Wilson to give the annual Peace Lecture.

Sharp was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2002 New Year Honours for services to human rights and humanitarian causes in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

In 2004, Sharp received the Coventry peace prize.

In 2013, the Vietnamese government awarded Sharp its Order of Merit.