Death of former hospital consultant

Dr Leslie Allan Milne, a consultant at Macclesfield District General Hospital for many years, has died aged 65.

Dr Milne swam for Whitehall Swimming Club in Dundee, was Junior Scottish Breaststroke champion six years running, swam for Scotland against South Africa in 1965, and swam the Tay from Broughty Ferry to Tayport on several occasions.

He played waterpolo and swam for Dundee University from 1967 to 1973, gaining seven blues, and was sportsman of the year in 1972.

He studied anaesthetics in Airedale then Liverpool before becoming a consultant at Macclesfield District General just after his 30th birthday.

Dr Milne was a consultant at Macclesfield for 25 years and was involved in the foundation of the East Cheshire Hospice.

He was among the first medical directors in Mersey region, having five departments, theatres, day ward, anaesthetics, recovery and radiology.

Dr Milne was instrumental in implementing the theatre operating assistant training in Macclesfield, giving his own time to give extra training in maths and English to trainees so that they could get the qualifications required.

With another anaesthetic colleague, Dr D Bardgett, they were the first to agree to train paramedics in Cheshire.

At 45 Dr Milne was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s and began to suffer from dementia latterly. After he retired, Dr Milne and his wife Joy decided to return home, settling in Perth.

He is survived by his wife and their three sons, Andrew, David and Alister, and seven grandchildren.

The funeral is Friday at 2pm at Perth Crematorium.