Doctor leaves £2m fortune to charities

Dr Margaret Langton instructed that her wealth should be passed to good causes following her death.

Dr Langton died in the Western General Hospital aged 96 in February this year following a short illness.

Her recently published will revealed that by the time of her death she had built up an estate valued at £2,034,300.

After leaving donations of almost £600,000 to friends she left instructions for the remainder of her wealth to be split between a number of charities.

Among those in line for a cash windfall are The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, Age Scotland, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the University of Edinburgh Development Trust, her old school George Watson’s College and her  local church, Murrayfield Parish Church, will also receive legacies.

Her estate included a large investment portfolio and more than £500,000 from the sale of her home in Murrayfield, which she sold in 2013 after moving into a care home.

Dr Langton was born in Mull in 1918 and came to Edinburgh as a child when her family moved, but was always proud of her island heritage.

After attending George Watson’s she graduated in medicine and immediately went back to Mull to act as a locum doctor in Tobermory.

Later on in her career she worked in the field of public health, finally acting as chairman of the South Lothian Hospital Trust.

She was remembered by colleagues as always being immaculately turned out and as one of the earlier female trainees, she worked hard to alter perceptions about women in the profession.

She was an active member of the Edinburgh branch of Soroptimist International, the worldwide organisation for professional women who work to improve the lives of females.

One friend of Dr Langton said: “She was a trailblazer for women in her profession but lived a very private life. She was committed to helping others and that is reflected in the legacies she has left in her will.”

Dr Langton, who wasn’t married and had no children, carried out volunteer work in various ways for a number of organisations and was awarded the Order of St John for her efforts.

She was still volunteering at Cruse Bereavement Care in her 90s – answering the phones – but had been a counsellor for many years.

A spokeswoman for Macmillan said: “We are extremely grateful for this very generous donation which will be used to fund Macmillan’s support services for people with cancer and their families.

“Almost a third of our funding comes from people leaving us a gift in their will so it’s no exaggeration to say that without people like Dr Langton we wouldn’t be able to be there for so many people who need our support.”