Doctor David loved to help people

FORMER GP and Western General doctor, David Drummond died on March 18 from pneumonia.

DR DRUMMOND spent his life helping others, whether at GP surgeries, the Western General Hospital, or through his work for the Scottish Home Health Department.

He was so dedicated that even after retirement he continued to work occasionally at the Western General, providing cover for staff.

The 83-year-old spent his final year battling lung cancer, and as his own health deteriorated one of his great regrets was that he was no longer able to use his skills to help others.

Born in Folkstone, Kent, he grew up in Scotland and attended the John Watson's School, in Edinburgh, which was closed in 1975.

He went on to study medicine at Edinburgh University and met his future wife Joyce in his first job at Peel Hospital, in Galashiels, in 1950.

Mrs Drummond, 79, who lives in the Grange, Edinburgh, said: "He was a very caring and hard-working registrar.

"Even after retiring he carried on as relief at the Western General. He kept going for as long as he could."

After leaving Peel Hospital he worked as a GP in Newtongrange, before moving to a practice in Ardmillan Terrace, Edinburgh, in 1963.

In the years leading up to his retirement he worked for the Scottish Home Health Department, a role which saw him go out and about assessing the needs of disabled people.

Even then, nearing retirement and working a demanding job during the week, the father-of-five lent his skills to the Western General on a Saturday.

His son Gavin, 53, who works as a veterinary surgeon, in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, said: "He was extremely dedicated to his work – that was something that shone through to us at a very young age.

"He worked long hours but it was just in his nature." When we were very young we did not see a lot of him, but he was around more later on."

Dr Drummond's daughter Gillian, 47, a clothing manufacturing adviser from Marchmont, added: "I think the phrase 'he was aye working' sums him up, even in the last month of his life he was still involved with the John Watson's Trust.

"Whilst growing up, we learnt about the busy life of a GP and the family worked around him.

"The phone did not belong to us – it was dad's phone and he was usually on call.

"Despite all his working hours he still managed to put the family first in guiding us all towards making the best of ourselves.

"Gardening was a relaxation for him and he was a wonderful host, both in cooking and entertaining us with stories.

"He had an astounding wealth of knowledge across many subjects which was acquired through an avid interest in reading."