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W. Urquhart, MB, ChB, FRCR, DMRD
138
CLINICAL RADIOLOGY
Obituary W. U R Q U H A R T , MB, ChB, F R C R , DMRD William Urquhart, 'Bill' to all who k n e w him, Consultant Radiologist at the Northern Regional Cardiotti0racic Unit, n o w located at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, died at the age of 48 years on 25 November 1978, after an illness lasting one year. Born at Rosehearty on t h e North Aberdeenshire coast, he attended school at Falkirk and received his medical training in Edinburgh where he was an active m e m b e r of the Boat Club. He graduated MB, ChB in 1954 and the following year joined t h e Royal Navy where he spent three years which he often recalled with great pleasure. Leaving the Navy, he became an RSO at the B r o m p t o n Hospital where he developed an interest in cardiology and thoracic surgery which eventually led to his specialising in the radiology of these subjects. His initial radiological training was at t h e Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, where he obtained the DMRD in 1 9 6 1 ; h e then moved to the Westminster Hospital where his interest in cardiothoracie radiology developed and while there i n 1963 he became a Fellow o f the Faculty of Radiologists. He came to Newcastle General Hospital as a cardiothoracic radiologist in 1965. His great skill in catheterisation and knowledge of his subject, combined with a perfectionism and determination to succeed, m e a n t that his angiographic work was second to none. He was truly an authority on his subject. From the time he came to Newcastle he was involved in planning the centralised Regional Caxdiothoracic Centre which was to replace the scattered units which had existed since the war. He was deeply involved in the planning and equipping of the Centre which is now located at Freeman
Hospital. His vision and his foresight have m e a n t that the department is equipped to the highest possible standards. Tragically, his illness coincided with the commissioning of the new department which prevented him from enjoying to the full this superb d e p a r t m e n t which now remains as a memorial to him. The clinicians, radiologists and radiographers, m a n y of w h o m he taught, all held him in the highest regard. He was a m e m b e r o f the British Institute of Radiology as well as the British Cardiac Society. Amongst his publications were papers on digital arteriography and Fallot's tetralogy. Outside his work a n d his family, his mairt interest was golf, playing to a handicap of 6 as a m e m b e r of the Northumberland Gulf Club. He loved working in his garden and doing household repairs and renovations. For m a n y of us he will be missed as a source of invaluable advice on these as well as radiological problems. During the painful and distressing course of his illness he struggled to keep his work going and to behave normally and with a frankness which was a great tribute to his remarkable courage and strength of will, t h e m e m o r y o f which will be a source of inspiration to all those who were privileged to k n o w and to work with h i m during this period. Bill Urquhart, a man with charisma and great strength of character, was a very hard worker and had m a n y qualities which endeared h i m to all who knew him. His blunt, honest, provocative criticism was always a source o f great stimulus to his radiological, cardiological and surgical colleagues. He is survived by four children, Craig, Roderick, Janet and Morag, and by his wife Bunty.
CLINICAL RADIOLOGY
Obituary W. U R Q U H A R T , MB, ChB, F R C R , DMRD William Urquhart, 'Bill' to all who k n e w him, Consultant Radiologist at the Northern Regional Cardiotti0racic Unit, n o w located at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, died at the age of 48 years on 25 November 1978, after an illness lasting one year. Born at Rosehearty on t h e North Aberdeenshire coast, he attended school at Falkirk and received his medical training in Edinburgh where he was an active m e m b e r of the Boat Club. He graduated MB, ChB in 1954 and the following year joined t h e Royal Navy where he spent three years which he often recalled with great pleasure. Leaving the Navy, he became an RSO at the B r o m p t o n Hospital where he developed an interest in cardiology and thoracic surgery which eventually led to his specialising in the radiology of these subjects. His initial radiological training was at t h e Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, where he obtained the DMRD in 1 9 6 1 ; h e then moved to the Westminster Hospital where his interest in cardiothoracie radiology developed and while there i n 1963 he became a Fellow o f the Faculty of Radiologists. He came to Newcastle General Hospital as a cardiothoracic radiologist in 1965. His great skill in catheterisation and knowledge of his subject, combined with a perfectionism and determination to succeed, m e a n t that his angiographic work was second to none. He was truly an authority on his subject. From the time he came to Newcastle he was involved in planning the centralised Regional Caxdiothoracic Centre which was to replace the scattered units which had existed since the war. He was deeply involved in the planning and equipping of the Centre which is now located at Freeman
Hospital. His vision and his foresight have m e a n t that the department is equipped to the highest possible standards. Tragically, his illness coincided with the commissioning of the new department which prevented him from enjoying to the full this superb d e p a r t m e n t which now remains as a memorial to him. The clinicians, radiologists and radiographers, m a n y of w h o m he taught, all held him in the highest regard. He was a m e m b e r o f the British Institute of Radiology as well as the British Cardiac Society. Amongst his publications were papers on digital arteriography and Fallot's tetralogy. Outside his work a n d his family, his mairt interest was golf, playing to a handicap of 6 as a m e m b e r of the Northumberland Gulf Club. He loved working in his garden and doing household repairs and renovations. For m a n y of us he will be missed as a source of invaluable advice on these as well as radiological problems. During the painful and distressing course of his illness he struggled to keep his work going and to behave normally and with a frankness which was a great tribute to his remarkable courage and strength of will, t h e m e m o r y o f which will be a source of inspiration to all those who were privileged to k n o w and to work with h i m during this period. Bill Urquhart, a man with charisma and great strength of character, was a very hard worker and had m a n y qualities which endeared h i m to all who knew him. His blunt, honest, provocative criticism was always a source o f great stimulus to his radiological, cardiological and surgical colleagues. He is survived by four children, Craig, Roderick, Janet and Morag, and by his wife Bunty.