After qualifying from Edinburgh in 1942 he joined the Royal Navy and saw war service in the Fleet Air Arm, after the war serving for 12 years in the Royal Naval Reserve, gaining the VRD and a lifelong interest in naval matters.
Following junior posts in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness he worked as Senior Registrar to Drs R W Turner, W I Card and Professor John Strong at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh gaining his MD in 1958.
The next 10 years were spent as Senior Medical Adviser to what was then Boots Pure Drug Company, work that involved much travel in Europe and North America, culminating in his appointment as Secretary then Chairman of the Association of Medical Advisers in the Pharmaceutical Industry.
Eight years were then spent as a geriatrician in Nottingham where, in addition to having 640 beds in 5 separate hospitals, he oversaw the building of new units and the starting of new services including a joint assessment unit for geriatric, psychiatric and social emergencies. In 1968, on the invitation of Professor A s Duncan he joined the joint WHO / Edinburgh University medical education project at the Medical College, Baroda, Gujerat, India working for one year as professor of medicine before returning to the UK as consultant geriatrician in Cornwall, eventually being awarded the Anniversary Medal of the British Geriatric Society.
A charming and convivial man, he had many hobbies and interests ranging from furniture restoration to walking, sailing, watching cricket and writing, many of his papers being anecdotal about the navy. He is survived by his wife, Audrey, three children and eight grandchildren.