Obituary: Dr Douglas Bremner, teacher, army reservist, community activist and Deputy Lieutenant for Renfrewshire

Published on Thursday 19 January 2012 00:00

Born: 2 November, 1939, in Dumbarton. Died: 5 December, 2011, in Newton Mearns, aged 72.

n Dr Douglas Bremner, medical practitioner and Commandant-in-Chief of St Andrew’s First Aid. Born: 2 November, 1939, in Dumbarton. Died: 5 December, 2011, in Newton Mearns, aged 72.

Dr DOUGLAS Bremner was an admired and respected figure in and around Glasgow, especially among colleagues in the medical profession and in St Andrew’s First Aid, where he was a most active and energetic commandant-in-chief from 2005. Bremner was a doctor who gave his patients’ time, confidence and took the trouble to explain an illness in detail. Nothing in his professional or private life was too much trouble for him and he cheerfully undertook many generous acts of kindness. He devoted his medical career to serving his patients and acted as colonel in the Reserve Army Medical Services and served as a senior medical referee for Glasgow City Council.

His friend and longstanding colleague Stuart Callison, the chief executive of St Andrew’s First Aid, has written: “Douglas, along with his passion for first aid and for the volunteer corps, brought the qualities of fairness, balance, and geniality to any discussion. When a meeting got heated, as they do, Douglas was always ready to defuse the tension with a quip or one of his [often terrible] jokes, before bringing people back to a calmer discussion of the issues.”

Archibald Douglas Bremner attended Hutchesons’ Boys’ Grammar School and then read medicine at Glasgow University, qualifying in 1964. After a year teaching pathology in Kenya, Bremner took up a position as a GP with the Rutherglen Health Centre. He was to become senior partner in the practice and senior registrar in pathology at the Victoria Infirmary. Bremner became closely associated with the community and was much involved with many fundraising activities.

Most important was his devoted service to St Andrew’s First Aid, which he helped revitalise when it changed its name and identity from the St Andrew’s Ambulance Association. He brought a fresh sense of drive and energy to its organisation. Bremner firmly believed in its ideals of extending healthcare to the elderly and needy and he worked tirelessly on their behalf.

Indeed, he committed much time to St Andrew’s over the 40 years he spent with it and, as its commandant, was active in furthering knowledge of its work. Bremner attended many events around Scotland and in the last weeks of his life he attended the St Andrew’s Day Service in Glasgow Cathedral and was a jovial presence at a members meeting in Edinburgh.

Bremner was also involved in many other charitable organisations.

He was the first president of Hutchesons’ 1641 Society, an association of former pupils who endow funds after their deaths. He was a part-time pathologist at Hairmyres Hospital and active in the Territorial Army (Royal Army Medical Corps). In the latter, Bremner was a founder member of the Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support training project.

His commitment to the TA was seen in his 40 years’ service, part of which was as commander of the 205 (Scottish) General Hospital from 1979-83 and Deputy Commander of the Lowland Brigade from 1983-86.

He supported his wife, Eleanor, in her work with Macmillan Cancer Support and was a keen collector of classic cars. Bremner was a born enthusiast and brought that openness and joy of life to everything with which he was involved. This affection was reflected in the numerous nicknames by which he was known – they varied from Doc through Colonel to Archibald. But he was a friend and confidante to many and his avuncular and generous nature was a byword throughout Renfrewshire.

The Bremners were very much part of the Newton Mearns community, but they had a flat in Troon where he was a keen member of Western Gailes Golf Club. Bremner’s standing in the community was recognised when he was appointed an honorary surgeon to the Queen and a Deputy Lieutenant for Renfrewshire in 1993.

Public service was very much part of Bremner’s life. His diligence as a practising GP was only part of his many ways he helped his fellow men. Many recall his conviviality with friends in the St Andrew”s First Aid, at the 19th hole at Newton Mearns or with his family to which he was devoted. As one friend commented: “Doug was a big man with a big heart and a welcoming and warm smile”.

Stuart Callison concluded: “At a time of great change for the organisation, Douglas was a stalwart supporter and friend to the management team, while at the same time being a popular figure with our volunteer corps.”

While still a student he met and married Eleanor, a biochemist who was doing research work at Yorkhill Hospital. She and their children David, Susan and Jonathan and seven grandchildren survive him.

Alasdair Steven

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