Alexander Farquharson MacDonald

Alexander Farquharson MacDonald (“Sandy”) was born in Perth, Scotland on 15 July 1929, the youngest of three. His father, Alec, owned a draper’s shop, had left school at 14, and had three children who all studied medicine at Edinburgh University. The eldest, Charlie, was a consultant bacteriologist at Lewisham General Hospital; the sister, Mary, a consultant pathologist at Edinburgh University; and Sandy a consultant radiologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Sandy attended Perth Academy (1941-47) and his passion was football. Mary was academic and urged Sandy to apply himself to his studies as much as he did to playing football.

He graduated MBChB from Edinburgh University in 1952 and instead of doing national service, as a conscientious objector, …