Patrick Weaver

n Patrick JPA Weaver DM, MCh, FRCS, surgeon. Born: 17 November, 1927, in Oxford. Died: 10 July, 2011, in Dundee, aged 83.

Patrick Weaver came to Scotland to join Professor Sir Donald Douglas’s surgical academic team at the University of St Andrews in 1967. He gave outstanding service to that flourishing surgical unit, to the university and to the health service.

This was particularly so when the surgical unit moved to Dundee’s new Ninewells Hospital and Medical School. During the period when Sir Donald Douglas was president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Patrick ran the unit for several years.

His surgical interests evolved into the area of surgical urology and he subsequently became NHS consultant urological surgeon in 1976, moving back to Dundee Royal Infirmary. He retired in 1992 but continued to practise. He worked as locum consultant in England, Scotland and Zimbabwe and lectured and worked with the Egyptian army medical corps.

Patrick was brought up in Oxford, the son of the eminent historian John Weaver. His father became president of Trinity College, Oxford, and Patrick was brought up in the college with childhood memories of playing in the rafters of the head of college’s residence.

He achieved a first-class honours degree in physiology at Oxford and proceeded to Guy’s Hospital for clinical training. He met his future wife at Guy’s Hospital where she trained as a nurse. His account of being examined for higher degrees in Oxford in these days, when full formal academic dress was required even in a clinical setting, was memorable.

Following his medical training he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was medical officer to the Gurkhas and 4th (King’s Own Royal) Regiment of Foot in Hong Kong.

He came to Dundee as senior lecturer with Sir Donald in 1967 and joined a group of surgeons working in that famous surgical unit.

His main areas of research were in properties of blood flow and subsequently in urology and paediatric urology. He also pioneered innovative surgical techniques for the treatment of incontinence.

As NHS consultant urological surgeon in Tayside, he gave great service to that community. He was an examiner for the Edinburgh College of Surgeons and became president of the 1921 Surgical Club.

Patrick is remembered by many as an outstanding teacher and trainer and particularly one who gave confidence and support to young surgeons in the early part of their careers.

He often gave enormous help to junior staff who were struggling and turned round the careers of many who found it difficult to withstand the challenges in the health service. He had a great capacity for friendship and had a wide knowledge of affairs and subjects well outside surgery and medicine.

In retirement he remained in Dundee where gardening, furniture restoration, art and opera were his main interests.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

PATRICK MacDOUGALL