Dundee doctor, Dr Anne Catherine (nee Donald) Langlands, has died aged 91.
Born in March 1929, Anne grew up in Dundee where she lived a happy childhood.
Her father Peter Donald ran a plumbing business in the city and was also a clerk in the jute industry.
She attended Harris Academy during the Second World War when many of the schoolchildren, including Anne, were evacuated for a few months to families in the countryside for fear of bombs dropping on Dundee.
Anne was at home when one of the eight bombs dropped on November 5 1940, destroying a neighbour’s bungalow in Marchfield Road.
On leaving school in 1947, Anne enrolled at Queen’s College, St Andrews University, where she studied medicine.
At medical school, she met her husband John Langlands, who had returned from service in the Royal Navy, and they graduated together in 1953.
The couple were married a year later and Anne went on to work as a registrar at Maryfield Hospital. She then stopped working to have three children, Tricia, John and Katy.
Her husband was a popular GP in the city, with a practice at Garland Place and Anne would occasionally help with Saturday morning surgeries.
In 1964 Anne began working as a community paediatrician in what was to be one of the first – and quite controversial – job shares with another doctor. They worked in child health clinics and schools in Dundee.
They also lectured young doctors and developed screening research over 25 years.
Anne was an active member of the British Medical Association, Dundee Adoption panel and dedicated her life to helping people.
Towards the end of her professional career, she specialised in caring for children with learning difficulties and this passion carried on into her retirement during which she was a trustee of Dundee Disabled Children’s Association.
When John died in 1995, Anne devoted her time to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Outside medicine, Anne loved travelling and enjoyed gardening, golf and playing bridge. She was also very artistic and enjoyed painting.
She was an elder in Dundee Parish Church St Mary’s, and was one of the first women in Scotland to achieve the role.
In her final years, Anne suffered from a progressive form of dementia and a very debilitating sepsis three years ago. In spite of her illness, her strong and resolute personality coupled with a zest for life shone through, allowing her to remain in her own home in the west end of Dundee.
She died peacefully after a short stay in Bridge View Care Home on April 21. Her family have expressed their thanks to all of the carers who supported Anne over the years.
Anne is survived by her three children, eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
