PROFESSOR Eldred Wells, the physician and anatomist, has died aged 95.
Eldred Wells was a renowned anatomist and inspirational teacher whose career took him around the world and to the top of his field.
Professor Wells' lecturing career began in 1935 in Glasgow and spanned more than 70 years, ending in Edinburgh w
here he was still giving anatomy tutorials in his 94th year.
Born in Glasgow in 1912, he was forced to leave Hillhead High School in 1927 due to financial pressures on his family after his father's death two years earlier.
He matriculated at Glasgow University in 1928 to study botany, and he went on to simultaneously study medicine and graduated with first class honours.
He worked in general practice in Argyllshire before returning to Glasgow to work in surgery. However, his family's financial problems meant that he could not pursue a surgical career, and he turned to anatomy.
He was appointed as a lecturer in Glasgow in 1935 and was considered an inspirational teacher by his students.
One of them, Vivien Robb – whom he met in a dissecting room – went on to be courted by him, and the couple got married in 1939.
He was promoted to the position of senior lecturer in 1941 and followed this with a move to Cardiff University. While there he became head of the university's Naval Reserve Unit. He also studied hypnotism and once put members of the London Symphony Orchestra under the spell live on stage.
A further promotion took him to Middlesex Hospital Medical School as a reader and later as chair of anatomy, and by 1967 he was chair of the medical school. He served for seven years in this position and raised million of pounds for the department.
A keen traveller, his work took him to Sudan, Nigeria, Jamaica and beyond, and he was also a keen rugby player and had a trial for Scotland.
He is survived by his two children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Vivien died in 1999, soon after their diamond wedding.
WILLIE Morrison, central gateman for Lothian Buses, has retired after 34 years with the company.
Mr Morrison joined Edinburgh Corporation Transport in 1974, initially as a bus conductor. However, within three months he had taken up a seat behind the wheel of a bus. In 1994, he moved off the buses altogether and became the company's central gateman.
When starting his current job he says that he would put out around 150 buses, whereas today he deals with 199 out of the 229 buses housed at the central terminal.
He has felt a great bond with the staff of Lothian Buses saying: "They are a great bunch and I will miss them."
He will not, however, miss starting his job at 2.30am for six days of the week and he says he will use his new free time to work on his hobbies, which include his car, gardening, brewing beer and wine, and walking his dog.
At a boardroom presentation, Mr Morrison was congratulated for his long service.
He was presented with a 15-year-old malt whisky, garden centre vouchers and cash.
The full article contains 533 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
