Helen Elizabeth Young (née Dunn)

Helen Elizabeth Young (née Dunn)

Former clinical assistant in haematology Ninewells Hospital, Dundee (b 9 September 1950; q St Andrews 1975), died from amyloid heart disease, secondary to myeloma, on 10 December 2001.

Helen completed her house jobs in Nottingham and Dundee and then became vocationally trained for general practice. She moved to Alyth in 1979, with her husband, Sandy, who is a general practitioner. She raised four children and managed to combine motherhood with work as a research associate in the hypertension unit at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. She also worked for several years with the family planning service in Blairgowrie.

When her illness struck, she was working with Care of the Elderly in Meigle Community Hospital. Ongoing treatment meant that this work had to be curtailed. Last year she was thrilled to be able to return to medical work in the haematology department at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, where her clinical judgment, personal qualities, and "people" skills were highly valued by patients and staff alike.

Her main interest was music. She sang with the Dundee Choral Union, played the piano and guitar, and encouraged her family in their various musical endeavours.

She was a highly respected and hardworking member of the board of Dundee High School for six years. She was ordained as an elder in her local parish church, and, despite failing health, carried out that work with dedication.

Helen died at home, peacefully, in the loving care of her husband and family—a daughter, and three sons. [Jessie Shaw]