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By Grant Smith
DR PAT McPHERSON, one of Dundee’s leading industrialists and a man who worked tirelessly to help raise millions of pounds for cancer research, has died at the age of 91.
Last night Dr Jacqui Wood, chairwoman of the Ninewells Cancer Campaign, led the tributes to her friend and colleague, describing him as “a giant of a man.”
She said, “He had the most wonderful life. He was so proud of Dundee and he contributed so much to Dundee and to the university. He will be sadly, sadly missed.”
For decades Dr McPherson led the expansion of Wright Dental into one of the leaders in its field in the UK, and that was only one of a long list of business and charitable interests that made him one of the most prominent and active members of the community.
Even long into his supposed retirement he continued to offer his energy, expertise and experience. In an interview with The Courier, given when he turned 80, he explained, “The last thing I would want to do is waken up in the morning and not have a purpose for getting up.”
The former Dundee High School pupil never seemed to be short of a purpose. James Paton McPherson served in the RAF, and upon demob bought the F. H. Wright Dental Manufacturing Company in 1946.
At the time it was a small concern, but under his guidance it grew to employ over 450 people and export to 80 countries. Dr McPherson was saddened last year to hear that production was moving overseas.
His many other business interests included senior roles at Drug Development (Scotland), car company Walter D. Watt, Dundee Crematorium Company, the Dental Industrial Association, the British Dental Trade Association and Abbey National’s Scottish advisory board. He was also a commissioner of taxes.
Among the organisations to benefit from his talents was the Rotary Club of Dundee, including a spell as president and earning along the way its highest award, the Paul Harris Fellowship. He was also on the Tayside committee of the Institute of Directors and served as vice-chairman of Dundee and Tayside Chamber of Commerce.
For most people that would be more than enough for one lifetime, but Dr McPherson’s interests were broader than the world of commerce and industry.
Helping charities played a major role in his life. He was a founder member of both the Tayside committee of the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children and VSO Tayside, and he also worked with Tenovus Tayside and the Robert T. Jones Memorial Trust.
He was also a life governor of the Imperial Cancer Research Campaign, and a member of its Scottish advisory board.
But the crowning achievement of his charitable works was his long-term involvement with cancer research, which helped to raise many millions for scientists and doctors working at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and helped Dundee University to attract some of the world’s leading researchers.
Only last month the university created a chair in cancer biology in tribute to him, with the aim of attracting to the post a scientist who would “show the same qualities of determination, integrity and selflessness that epitomise the influence of Pat McPherson on the life and work of the university.”
Last night Sir Alan Langlands, principal of Dundee University, was among those paying tribute to Dr McPherson, who was vice-chairman of the Ninewells Cancer Campaign.
He said, “He was a great friend and supporter of the university for several decades. His tireless work for the Ninewells Cancer Campaign has had a profound effect on the development of university research and the provision of services for the people of Tayside and north-east Fife.
“He will be greatly missed by his many friends at the university.”
The university had already honoured Dr McPherson by awarding him an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1986.
He served as a member of its governing body, the university court, for 10 years and as convener of its finance committee for eight.
His decades of public service were also recognised when he was made an OBE in 1987.
It was when he was serving as vice-chairman of a Ł1 million appeal to bring Roland Wolf to Dundee to head the biomedical research centre that Dr Wood came to speak to the Rotary club.
That was the start of a partnership that has helped to make the city one of the most renowned centres for cancer research not only in the UK but the world.
D. C. Thomson comic character Dennis The Menace was also drafted in to help a series of fund-raising efforts, starting with Help Dennis Beat The Menace. That helped to establish the cancer centre at Ninewells, which has attracted many leading scientists.
The department of surgery and molecular oncology officially opened in 2001 and has been carrying out pioneering work ever since. Dundee has become home to some of the world’s top specialists in gene therapy and keyhole surgery.
Reflecting on his career last night, Dr Wood described Dr McPherson as “a wonderful gentleman and philanthropist. He quietly helped people, he did things people have no idea about. He got involved in things and he encouraged others to get involved, too. He was a star.”
Dr McPherson also had a passion for golf and became friendly with some of the greatest players ever to grace the sport, including Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Dr McPherson and wife Muriel were often seen on the courses at Gleneagles, where they were both made honorary members. Even when he was approaching 80, and after two hip replacements, he was still seen on the fairways.
Mrs McPherson died in 2005.
In the interview with The Courier in 1996, Dr McPherson outlined a simple philosophy of life—“I believe in leading by example.” His many achievements stand as testament to that.
A service of thanksgiving will be held at Dundee Crematorium on Thursday.
Donations may be made at the crematorium to the Ninewells Cancer Campaign.
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