'Legendary' doctor was perfect tonic for patients

Published on Thursday 7 July 2011 11:43

LINKS Medical Centre in Leith lost one of its most beloved faces this month as Dr Simon Trotter retired after 32 years of loyal service.

Dr Trotter, 60, who was born in Aberdeen to a parish minister originally from Glasgow and raised in Wiltshire before moving to Edinburgh for university, came to the surgery in 1979 having served at several hospitals around the city, including the Royal Infirmary and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

Working as a general practitioner he said he has seen many changes to the medical profession, "some good, some bad", but the way it is practised is fundamentally the same even though there is far more doctors can do for their patients than when he first started.

He said: "There are some things I won't miss, but I'll miss the challenge and will definitely miss the people."

He described the medical centre as a "lovely place to work" and spoke highly of all his colleagues.

When asked what the high points of his career were, Dr Trotter pointed to the GP training scheme he was involved in for 12 years through NHS Scotland that keeps them up to date with recent medical innovations and procedures, as well as being honoured in South Leith Parish Church's 400th anniversary in 2009 as one of the "Pillars of Leith".

He was given a medal for his contribution to the community along with others who had made a substantial positive impact on Leith, including police officers, fire fighters and teachers.

Terry Thomson, the ex-manager of the practice who has also recently retired and has known Dr Trotter since he started, paid tribute to his former colleague.

He said: "He is a legend in Leith, even to the people who are not his patients. He is a remarkable man, very compassionate towards his patients, and will be sorely missed at the practice."

Dr Trotter has been married to Catherine, a school nurse, for 35 years and has three grown-up children - Alisdair, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife and child; Andrew, who works for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Kenya; and Catriona, who has recently started teacher training in Leeds.

He now plans a very "big break" for the next few months and will shortly be going on holiday to Kenya to visit Andrew but says it is highly unlikely that he will simply retire for good.

He said: "I don't see myself sitting around."

He has no concrete plans just yet, though he thinks he may like to get involved with education in some form or another.

After 35 years of dedicated service, the Links Medical Centre, its staff and its patients certainly have so much to thank Dr Trotter for.