John Luscombe Tester
BMJ 2006; 333 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.333.7557.48-d (Published 29 June 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;333:48
Data supplement
John Luscombe Tester
Former medical missionary, Nazareth, Israel, and member of the Scottish Health Advisory Board (b London, February 1920; q Royal London Hospital 1950; OBE), died from ruptured aortic aneurysm on 1 February 2006.John Tester was a meteorologist stationed in Palestine during the second world war. Arriving at the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society Hospital in Nazareth on his first visit the then Medical Superintendent was helping a patient out of a taxi. He requested help with the words: "From now on you are on the staff of this hospital."
These turned out to be prophetic words, as he continued with a keen interest in the hospital in Nazareth for the rest of his life.
At the conclusion of military service he returned to the United Kingdom to train at the Royal London Hospital, and after house jobs he returned to Nazareth in 1952, being superintendent from 1957 to 1969.
Returning to the United Kingdom in 1969 he became home director of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society (EMMS) but was soon recruited to the newly formed Scottish Health Advisory Board, where he served until retirement.
He had a deep Christian faith manifest by compassion and practical action.
He leaves a wife, Odette; three daughters; and seven grandchildren. [Fred Holmes]