In Memoriam Dr Edward
Anderson
Dr Edward Anderson died
at his home in Forres on the 11th February 2004 at the age of 79 after
a lond and debilitating illness, nursed faithfully by his loving wife
Eileen.
Eddie Anderson was born
in Tarland but brought up in Aberchirder where his father was a bank
manager. he was educated at Banff Academy and Aberdeen University
where he graduated in medicine in 1946. He did his medical internship
at Stracathro Hospital and entered the Royal Army Medical Corps,
attaining the rank of Captain. He then practised in Bromsgrove in
England and finally came to Glenlivet where he was a general
practitioner for over 20 years. He loved Glenlivet and his patients
loved him, as he was a conscientious, knowledgeable and sympathetic
family doctor working single-handed in a vast practice area renowned
for its atrocious weather. For much of the time he was on duty night
and day, 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.
Despite his commitments
and backed up by Eileen, he worked tirelessly for the SNP. He was for
long Chairman of the local branch and later Convener of the Banffshire
Constituency and was an important part of the team which saw Hamish
Watt's breakthrough in 1974, when he became MP for Banffshire. With
the reorganisation of local government, Glenlivet became part of Moray
and Dr Anderson was appointed President of the Moray Constituency
Association, an honour he much cherished.
He married Eileen Daly
from Mullingar in County Meath, who had been a nurse in the Aberdeen
Royal Infirmary and they had an ideal marriage which lasted 56 years,
being blessed with four children and seven grand children.
The funeral was held at
the church in Tombae in Glenlivet on a beautiful sunny day. The
service was taken by the Church of Scotland minister and the Catholic
priest from Tomintoul in a joint ecumenical service. The church was
packed to overflowing with over 300 people being present mainly from
the Glenlivet area but with a large number of SNP activists also
present. In addition to Dr Anderson's wife, children, grandchildren
and his two sisters the service was attended by Winnie Ewing and Angus
Robertson MP for Moray. Margaret Ewing MSP was abroad and sent her
deep regrets. James MacPherson, the recently retired Lord Lieutenant
of Banffshire, was also present. The Eulogy was given by Dr Norman
Allan who gave tribute to the respect in which Dr Anderson was held by
patients and fellow medical practitioners alike. Internment was in the
cemetery in Glenlivet.
Published in Scots
Independent April 2004
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