Frances Mary Mules came from a naval family and spent her early childhood in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). She decided to pursue a medical career and trained at the London School of Medicine, which was to become the Royal Free, qualifying in 1951. Shortly after completing her house jobs, Frances entered general practice. In 1953 she joined a practice in Bromley with two women partners and practised out of the basement of a large Victorian house on Widmore Road. The practice rapidly outgrew its premises, and in 1968 Frances and her partner Dr Margaret Martin agreed to join forces with Drs John Wishart and Peter Browne to move into a converted, detached house called South View Lodge. The surgery was unique in Bromley as they remained two separate practices harmoniously sharing staff, premises, and tea room. In 1979 Dr Mary Matthews joined the practice and they worked together until Frances retired in 1990. Frances had served the Bromley community for 37 years. Despite being short and stocky in stature, she commanded respect and was known for her outstanding diagnostic abilities.
Frances contributed much to her local community. She was an active member of the Mothers' Union and is remembered for coordinating the sewing of a quilt which was raffled to raise £7000 for a children's hospital home from home. Predeceased by her husband, Alexander (“Sandy”) Knox, Frances leaves two daughters and one grandson.