Ronald David Graham
BMJ 2003; 327 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7425.1231-d (Published 20 November 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;327:1231Data supplement
- Ronald David Graham
General practitioner Clarkston, Glasgow (b Glasgow 1948; q Glasgow 1973; DRCOG 1975, MRCGP 1977), d 27 April 2003.Ronnie Graham was a caring and popular Glasgow general practitioner with interests in childhood asthma, palliative care, and work as a police surgeon. All this was brought to a sudden end by a series of events leading to a serious illness and his untimely death on 27 April 2003.
Ronnie was born and brought up in Glasgow but maintained an abiding love of his mother’s birthplace in Gairloch, and it was there he was finally laid to rest.
He was educated at Glasgow Academy, where he developed a lifelong love of rugby football, rising to school vice captain and captain of the first XV. Originally a language scholar he achieved the remarkable feat of changing to science subjects in his sixth year, allowing entry to medical school, from where he graduated in 1973. A flirtation with orthopaedics at Stirling was soon forgotten and after a brief spell in Greenock he moved to Clarkston, where he built up a practice in which he became senior partner in 1986.
In tandem with medicine, Ronnie was a considerable sportsman. He maintained a single-figure golfing handicap, but it was rugby that brought him a university blue, membership of the Scottish Universities squad, and a long playing career for Glasgow Accies. He was, however, equally committed to passing on his skills to others and over many years coached youth teams in and around Glasgow. His most notable achievement was organising the Festivals of Youth Rugby in 1997 and 1999, culminating in a presentation of prizes by the Princess Royal at Murrayfield.
Ronnie’s Christian faith found expression in his involvement with the Scottish Schoolboys Club as a member from the age of 11, but later as officer and organiser.
Ronnie always admitted that he could not have sustained the practice, the sport, or the community work without the abiding support of his wife, Edith, and his two sons, David and Callum. It was his family’s loving concern that kept him going through his last, few, dark months.
Ronnie Graham always lived life at full tilt and along the way made enduring friendships. Edith and the boys have lost the most, but all who knew him as patient, colleague, team mate, role model, friend, or acquaintance keenly miss his energy, commitment, and love. [Alasdair Graham, Brian Keighley]
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