John Caspar Winteler
BMJ 2005; 331 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7522.969-g (Published 20 October 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;331:969Data supplement
John Caspar Winteler
Former senior specialist in neurology and cardiology Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa (b 1910; q King’s College, London, 1933; FRCP), d 29 July 2005.
John Winteler was born in Croydon, where he attended Whitgift School and was awarded an open scholarship, choosing King’s College, London, to study medicine and theology. On qualification he gained the Medicine Prize and continued at King’s for four years of registrar posts, obtaining the MRCP in 1935.
After his war call-up he was posted to Baghdad in October 1943, and as lieutenant colonel was in charge of a division there. He also spent five months in Iran and then returned to Iraq as officer commanding the hospital in Khanaquin. Then, during two further years in the Gulf states, he further developed his interest in Christian and Jewish archaeology, visiting Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Cyprus. After the war he was made medical adviser to land forces in Egypt and then Greece.
In 1947 he left the armed forces, turning down jobs with the Ministry of Health and a consultant post at King’s, and emigrated to east Africa to join his sister and her family there. After a short period as consultant medical adviser to the Groundnuts Scheme, he moved to Nairobi and a very successful private practice. For some years he had the only ECG machine in east Africa and treated Jomo Kenyatta and many famous visitors coming for the wildlife safaris.
He kept up his keen interest in music and regularly played organ and piano for church services and family occasions. He helped run the Nairobi Crusader Club and held open house for many army personnel during the Mau Mau uprising.
He was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1964.
He left Nairobi in 1972 for Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital as senior specialist in neurology and cardiology, finally retiring at the grand age of 81 years. He still continued to play the organ at his church and to travel extensively until 2002, when failing health, which he bore with great dignity, limited his activity.
His mind and his faith were strong and active until the last few days of his most interesting life. He died aged 95 years. Although he never married, he became the father figure for his many nephews and nieces and their children, and will be greatly missed by them all. [Esther Watson-Jones]
See more
- Introductory AddressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 1-4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.1
- Report of the Meeting of the Eastern Branch of the Provincial Association at Bury St. Edmond'sProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 10-13; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.10
- Mr. Warburton's Bill for the Regulation of the Medical ProfessionProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 13-15; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.13
- An Atlas of Plates, illustrative of the Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine and Surgery, with descriptive LetterpressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4
- A Practical Treatise on the Diseases peculiar to Women, illustrated by Cases, &cProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4-5; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4-a