Obituaries

British Medical Journal, May 1, 1999

Sir Ian William James McAdam

Former professor of surgery Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (b 1917; q Edinburgh 1940; FRCSE, FRCS; OBE), d 4 March 1999. His appointment enabled him to play a leading part in the growing international reputation of the medical school, then the only one in east Africa. The first generation of east African surgeons were trained in his department, and the quality of their training was such that the MMed in surgery was recognised by the surgical royal colleges in Britain. Although he laid no claim to be a basic scientist, he made major contributions to clinical research. He was a prime mover in establishing the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service, and was instrumental in establishing the Polio Treatment Centre and the Cancer Institute. A founder member of the East African Association of Surgeons, he later became its president.

There can be few surgeons who have had to deal with a major head wound sustained by their country's president (Obote) after a failed coup and operate in a theatre full of excited soldiers with automatic weapons. McAdam's contribution to the development of a multiracial society and his leadership qualities made it inevitable that he would come into contact with the brutal regime imposed by Obote's successor, Idi Amin. In 1972 he and two professorial colleagues were expelled, and he devoted his considerable energies in exile to the plight of colleagues, many of them of Asian descent, who had been forced to leave. After a year at the National Cancer Institute in Washington he returned to Africa, to Plettenburg Bay in South Africa where he undertook all the surgery in Knysna Hospital until he was 72.

An outstanding sportsman, McAdam gained a blue for tennis at Edinburgh and represented Uganda at many sports, winning national rifles at golf, tennis, and motor rallying. His other hobbies included photography, gardening, and a love of the African bush and its wild life. His first marriage was dissolved and he and his second wife retired to Oxfordshire in 1992. All his homes were havens of warm hospitality, favourite watering holes for their immense circle of friends. He leaves a wife, Pam, and three children from his first marriage (one a professor of tropical medicine and director of the Medical Research Council unit in the Gambia and one a child psychiatrist). [DAVID CARTER]

John Randall Archibald

Former general practitioner Rossendale, Lancashire (b London 1919; q Manchester 1943), died from heart failure on 16 November 1998. His parents were both in general practice, and after service in the Royal Army Medical Corps in India he joined his widowed mother instead of following a career in dermatology. In the close knit community of the Rossendale Valley, which he served for 35 years, he was known as "Dr John" and two practices eventually amalgamated to become a health centre with six doctors and two satellite surgeries. He valued the links with the local St John Ambulance Association. He had to retire in 1980 after coronary bypass surgery but maintained a keen interest in medicine. Though quiet and reserved, he had a sparkling sense of humour. He had a deep love of music and enjoyed gardening. Devastated by the death of one of his daughters, he found solace in his faith. He leaves a wife, Margaret; two daughters; and 12 grandchildren (one a doctor). [NANETTE LYE, FIONA MAGGY]

Joan ("Judy") Britton (nee Kelly)

Associate specialist in radiotherapy St Thomas's Hospital, 1973-92 (b 1924; q St Thomas's 1952), d 9 February 1999. Judy had an unusual career. During the war she studied physics and carried out research on concrete for airfield runways. After the war she became a physicist in the radiotherapy department at St Thomas's Hospital and then joined the first intake of women into the medical school. After bringing up her family she returned to medicine in 1973, initially as a research assistant in the hyperbaric oxygen unit at St Thomas's. Thereafter she became a clinician. On retirement she moved to the Cathedral Close in Salisbury. She leaves a husband, Hubert, and five children (one a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and one a consultant neurologist). [THELMA BATES]

Margaret Yvonne ("Peggy") Currie

Former senior clinical medical officer Leeds and west riding of Yorkshire (b 1926; q Leeds 1950), died from lymphoma on 26 January 1999. After junior jobs in obstetrics and gynaecology she spent a year in general practice before entering the community health service. She concentrated on cervical cytology and believed that a cervical smear should be taken by a doctor as it provided a useful opportunity for a pelvic examination. As well as being capable she had a warm and approachable personality. Outside medicine her interests included gardening, embroidery, playing the piano, and walking in the Lake District. She leaves a husband, Jim (a former general practitioner); a son (a consultant physician); two daughters; and four grandchildren. [JAMES I CURRIE]

Donald Andrew Ewing

Former general practitioner Folkestone (b Rochester 1914; q Sheffield 1951), d 11 February 1999. He was a traffic superintendent in the telephone department of the Post Office before he was called up when he served in the administrative side of the Royal Air Force during the war. He then studied medicine and spend three years as a ship's surgeon in the Union Castle liner, Braemar Castle, before entering general practice. Donald also worked in local authority child welfare clinics for nearly 20 years and when he retired he worked as a locum. Outside medicine he enjoyed camping, mainly in France, worldwide travelling, wine, and gardening. He leaves a wife, Pam. [J HEFFERMAN]