Una Mclean’s life spanned humanitarian medicine in Aden, community medicine in Nigeria, community medicine in Scotland, academic studies, social anthropology, all coupled with a prodigious scientific output (over 50 peer-reviewed papers), the publication of five books and a family of five children and two stepchildren. Born in the west of Scotland of deeply religious parents (she was a daughter of the manse), this strict and austere upbringing served to make her a lifelong atheist and humanist but did nothing to dampen her duty of care and concern for the disadvantaged. Dr Mclean qualified in medicine at Edinburgh University in 1949 and her first post was held with Sir Stanley Davidson and Dr Wilfred Card. Her subsequent studies led to her gaining MD, PhD, FFCM and more.
With her first husband, Dr Mclean worked in Aden and later worked in Nigeria with her then second husband (a well-known Labour politician, John P Mackintosh). Her subsequent studies included cancer research, blood transfusion and smallpox. Returning to Edinburgh she worked for 23 years in the Department of Community Medicine – three of them as acting head.
She had strong views which she did not keep to herself which included Scottish independence. Her family were her main interest but others included being a founding member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.