James Paton Orr Erskine

James Paton Orr Erskine

Former consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Vale of Leven District General Hospital, Alexandria, Dunbartonshire (b 1915; q Glasgow 1937; FRCP Glas, FRCOG), died from pneumonia complicating a stroke on 10 July 2004.

Having graduated as Brunton medallist (as top graduate of his year), Orr specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology. He became a consultant at Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital and the Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women and was then appointed consultant to Dumbarton County, initially singlehanded and working at a number of small hospitals. In 1953-4 the Vale of Leven Hospital was opened, gynaecology came under one roof, and a second consultant was appointed. In 1970 a maternity unit was opened on the hospital site and a third consultant arrived to complete the team. Orr’s main interest, clinically, was radical surgery for cervical cancer, which he performed with considerable skill and success. He managed his obstetric patients with old-style conservatism and delighted in teaching the younger professionals, particularly the student midwives. He retired from practice in 1980 to continue his active life outside medicine. A low-handicap golfer, he was a past captain of Helensburgh golf club. He also enjoyed curling, skiing, hillwalking, and photography, and was a skilful and successful fly-fisher. Predeceased by his first two wives, he leaves his third wife, Margaret, and his stepdaughter, Julie. [Alex Clark, David Erskine]