Tributes paid after death of Dr Alan S Watson

Dr Alan S Watson – affectionately known as ‘the Doc’ or ‘Doc Watson’ – served the local community for 37 years after joining the Musselburgh Bridge Street practice.

Musselburgh Rugby Football Cub was also close to his heart and he served for years on the touchline as team doctor.

The club paid tribute to him, saying: “Alan was a fantastic supporter of the club and formed a strong family bond with everyone at Stoneyhill. His son Derek is a past captain of the club and his grandson Euan has also pulled on the Butcher’s Apron.

“The term ‘true gentleman’ is often quoted when recalling the character of individuals and in Alan’s case this sentiment almost appears too light. He was always willing to go that extra mile for his patients and was in all respects a man of great integrity, wisdom and compassion.

“During the days when there were no substitutes allowed, his expertise was invaluable on the touchline. If you were injured and could go back onto the pitch without seriously doing more damage to yourself then he would patch or stitch you up and send you back into the fray.

“There will be many ex-MRFC players who have received the doctor’s special brand of care and will remember fondly the sight of him extricating his stitching kit from his bag to do his repair work.

“Alan will be held in our memory forever and our thoughts are with all his family at this sad time.”

Dr Watson’s family said: “He has not just been our dad, father-in-law, grandpa, great grandpa, uncle and cousin; he has been our friend and our go-to ‘Doc’, taking us aside to his consulting room in our lounge! It is impossible to put into words how much he will be missed.”

Dr Watson was born on May 19, 1928, at Queen Mary Nursing Home, Edinburgh, to John Thomas and Annie (née Spence) Ewing Watson.

He was educated at George Watson’s Boys’ College and was described as “a studious, interested pupil, particularly interested in science, neither sporty nor musical”. He went on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School.

He was a house practitioner in South Shields before becoming house surgeon at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary under Walter Mercer, whom he greatly admired. Dr Watson undertook National Service in Malta in 1951, just missing the late Prince Philip and young Princess Elizabeth’s time there.

He was commissioned in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) as a Surgeon Lieutenant. In 1952, he was appointed Medical Officer, Families, C&C staff, and Schools MO, RNS Malta.

Dr Watson married Pearl (Margaret Mary Catherine Therese Dickson) on November 3, 1951, at St Anne’s Oratory, Randolph Place, Edinburgh.

Their first home was service accommodation in Malta, where their daughter Beverly was born.

The family moved to Dunblane, where Dr Watson worked as a GP trainee. They then settled in Musselburgh, where Dr Watson took up the post of junior partner in the Musselburgh Bridge Street practice.

He was very much involved in caring for workers in surrounding coal mines, the local paper mill and other factories such as Brunton Wire Works which, at that time, employed more than 7,000 workers.

As well as being interested in the lives and families of every patient, with an amazing memory for names and details, he served on the executive committee of the Lothians’ British Medical Association and was its general secretary for a period.

One of his proudest achievements was being elected honorary fellow of the British Medical Association (BMA) in 1997 and he was also chairman of the Medical Ethics Committee, a role he continued until his 80s.

His interest in sports medicine was established in his early medical years.

He wrote an impassioned speech for a BMA meeting, when he was honorary secretary, in support of the Lothian division’s motion for local and national committees to advise on sport health and safety regulations and rules in different sports, sports facilities and the training of coaches and those providing first aid and education in these fields.

The couple had three children –Beverly, who passed away in 2010, Kim, christened Hamish, and Derek.

Dr Watson, with his wife Pearl, was involved as an activist, organiser and fundraiser for the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He also became very much a part of the Musselburgh community, embracing the fishing community and Honest Toun events.

He was a member of Musselburgh Rotary Club, which he joined in 1964, serving as president 1976-77 and being awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship in 2009.

Pearl died in 2012 following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s, tenderly nursed by her devoted husband.

Dr Watson overcame bladder cancer, which was monitored for 25 years, and kept good physical and mental health until he suffered falls in 2020 and 2021. He was admitted to hospital on January 21 with a fractured pelvis and died in Liberton Hospital with hospital-acquired double pneumonia on Friday, March 26.

His family said: “As a family, we know the work Alan was proudest of was his day-to-day involvement with his patients, following up on every case. In his life outside work, Alan couldn’t be prouder of his whole family and maintaining family connections far and wide truly mattered to him.”

Dr Watson is survived by his two sons Kim and Derek, son-in-law Mic, daughters-in-law Pam and Leslie, six grandchildren – Anneli, Kai, Mark, Rachel, Euan and Tamar – and great grandson Benjamin, who was born in June 2020.