GP leaves £1.2m for his medical school

Dr Alexander Fairley, who died last year aged 87, donated the legacy to the University of Glasgow's School of Medicine.

The GP, of Clydebank, had trained there before working at the Clydebank Health Centre for most of his life.

Known as Alistair to his friends, Dr Fairley never married and had no children. He lived in the house where he was born until he died of a heart attack last August.

He had requested his funeral service be held in it.

His bequests also included a 25,000 donation to Duntocher Trinity Parish Church, with the remainder of his 1.5m estate being given to friends, including 215,000 to Cathie Blair, who cared for him in his later years.

Last night, another friend said that there had been astonishment at the size of Dr Fairley's generous gifts.

He said: "Alistair was just a wonderful man, I'm not surprised he has left money to good causes.

"However, the amount involved is absolutely astonishing, I had no idea he would have left such a massive legacy.

"It's a gesture which highlights what a fantastic man and doctor he was."

Dr Fairley was born in Glasgow in 1923 and lived as an only child with his mother and father in Clydebank.

He attended Glasgow Academy in the city's west end before moving on to study medicine at the University of Glasgow.

"Dr Fairley was much loved by all the staff and patients" added a spokesman for the Clydebank Health Centre.

A spokesman for the University of Glasgow said it was too early to comment on Dr Fairley's bequest.