Dugald Macmillan Chalmers (12 Jan 1947 - 31 Mar 2022)

With fond memories of Colindale Primary School, 1954-1958

Hello. My name is Stewart Bristow and Douglas and I were best friends at Colindale Primary School between 1954 and 1958 when we both went our separate ways to secondary schools, Douglas to Christ's College and me to Orange Hill County, Edgware. A year later we moved to Rickmansworth and I attended the local grammar. In 1963 we moved again to Kent with my father's job. After university I entered a career in education, both teaching and admin and I retired as Asst Head at a comprehensive in Ilford (tough but rewarding). For decades I have been meaning to try and contact Douglas; I knew he was in Leeds but teaching at the University. It was by pure chance that I came across this post. Needless to say I am devastated to read this sad news. As boys Douglas and I had much in common, and it was lovely to have someone of his intelligence to share working in class with Miss Carr, Mrs Franoux, Mr Lewis and Mr Griffiths.

Please accept my deepest condolences, albeit 2 years late. Douglas will always have a special place in my memories.

Stewart Bristow

Fond memories

With love from the Chiu Chalmers family x

In memory of Doug from Pat and Pam

On behalf of Geoff and Lynne.

On behalf of Mary Schofield

Love you always x

Dugald, christened Dugald by his parents but called Douglas by them for the rest of his life, was born on 12th January !947 in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. Tragically, his twin George died at three days old. Their Dad, Alec, was a bank clerk and their mother , Morag had worked for the Land Army during the war.

The family moved to Colindale, N W London, when he was five, and Doug attended Colindale Primary School and Christ’s College , Finchley. He wanted to be a doctor from the early age of 14, and this local Grammar School had a Medical/ Dental stream in their sixth form.
It was here, on December 19th, 1964 that I met Doug. My all girls school were invited to his all boys school Christmas dance. I thought it was love at first sight, but no… I was shorter than my friend, and he was shorter than his friend, when the pair of them asked us to dance! My father promptly moved to France with the RAF, but Doug came to visit, and although he went to Leeds University to read Medicine, and I went to Lancaster University, we stayed together.

At Leeds Doug, C for Chalmers, made lifelong friends with Phil, B for Boid and Barry, B for Bullen (and Best Man). I gather teams were grouped in alphabetical order round the anatomy table. So much so that they shared a house together, even after we were married. We married on August 30th 1969 whilst we were still students, him in Leeds, me in Lancaster.

Doug worked hard. He gained a B.Sc. In Physiology, doing an extra year and graduated MB ChB in 1971. He chose hospital medicine and did his house jobs in Leeds. Andrew arrived in November 1972, followed by Michael in September 1974. Doug was away every other night, every other weekend. In 1975 he moved to Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow for his registrar posts. Geoff arrived in June 1977 and the Douglas in February 1979 making our family complete. Then it was back to Leeds in October 1979 and Doug became a consultant in gastroenterology at the young age of 34.

He absolutely loved his chosen career. Whilst I had novels and light magazines on my bedside table he read the British Medical Journal at night.
He valued his colleagues in all areas of his department. He worked hard for (almost!) every ward round, outpatients and committee meeting and was dedicated to his career.

He also cared passionately for his boys. He supported them and was immensely proud of their achievements and the paths they have chosen. Daughters in law and grandchildren brought great joy to us both. We joked that any Chalmers daughter in law would have to be born in Ruislip after the first two were. Luckily exceptions were made for New Jersey and York! We have had wonderful times together as a family, even in these last hard weeks.

To our amazement, Doug embraced retirement. The BMJ disappeared replaced by gardening and photography magazines.He loved living in York and particularly Micklegate. We were lucky to have a cottage in Staithes and an allotment. Some of our happiest times were spent enjoying ‘picnics on the plot’ in all weathers. We made good friends there, as we had at University, in Leeds, then London, Collingham and York.

As our sons will tell you, Doug was a quiet, kind, caring, loving man with strong opinions on injustice and inequality. He held firm to his beliefs but never imposed them on others and was always willing to accept differing points of view even if they were not for him.

His diagnosis of colon cancer on January 19th was a complete shock although the government test had picked up a problem at Christmas. He had had no obvious warning signs.We cannot believe how speedily and cruelly his illness progressed but we still managed a few happy family moments.
We could not have managed the Hospice at Home care we both wanted, without the extraordinary team of Macmillan nurses led by Caroline out of St. Leonard’s Hospice. They are truly amazing people and we are so grateful. Thanks also to the Community Nurses and Doctors Hartley and Garry. Also a huge thank you to the J G Fielder lead by Simon, who, when we said that Douglas and Georgina had to fly back to HK on Sunday worked hard to help us achieve this funeral in a week.

We were together 58 and a quarter years. How lucky was I?!