I was born in the borders of Scotland and educated at Glasgow University. After several years in hospital medicine I went into rural practice in Perthshire where I had a very varied and satisfying career in clinical practice, medical management and research. I have a doctorate in medicine from the University of Glasgow. I am fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of Edinburgh and of Glasgow. I am also a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. In 2011 I was awarded an MBE for services to community health care.

For many years I have given lectures on various topics from public health, the history of the postal services to the illnesses of Robert Burns. These lectures have been given to a wide variety of historical groups, libraries and rotary clubs. Now that I have retired I have taken my interest in medicine and art further by becoming an accredited NADFAS lecturer. My interest in books and manuscripts is reflected in my governorship of Innerpeffray Library which is one of the oldest public lending libraries in the country. This year I have published my first non-medical publication on three hundred years of the postal history of Perth. I really enjoy sharing my enthusiasms with others .