Papers of Dr Alexander Percy Walker, 1916-2012, medical graduate and general practitioner, University of Glasgow, Scotland

Scope and Content

  • Educational Papers 1932-1946;
  • War duties papers 1939-1944;
  • Professional papers c 1940s;
  • Personal papers 1937-2002.

Administrative / Biographical History

Alexander Percy Walker was born on the 2nd July,  1916  at Campbellfield, Kilwinning Road, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was the son of Thomas Campbell Walker, from Walker's Chemical Works in Irvine (later to become part of ICI at the base in Ardeer).When aged ten Percy was sent to Cambusdoon Preparatory School in Alloway, Ayr, and then moved on to Shrewsbury School, England, aged fourteen. He succeeded in obtaining his School Certificate and gained his University Entrance Certificate. Percy began at the  University of Glasgow, Scotland in the Autumn of  1934  studying medicine. In his first year he took classes in Physics, Chemistry, Zoology and Botany. He then studied Anatomy and Physiology, before going on to examine Pathology, Materia Medica and Surgery. In his fourth year he studied Medical Jurisprudence and Public Health, and finally he undertook classes in Surgery, Medicine and Midwifery. Percy qualified with MBChB on the 3rd September  1939 , the same day that war broke out in Europe.

Whilst studying at University, Alexander Percy Walker was also keenly involved in many sporting activities such as golf and tennis; his greatest sporting achivement came in the University annual High Jump competition, which he won four times during his five years there.

After qualifying Percy became a Houseman in the skin wards of the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, before going to London and signing up to the Royal Navy. Percy then became a Temporary Acting Surgeon Lieutenant RNVR. The first ship that he served upon was HMS GARTH, which he was on board from June 1940 until August 1941. After serving on various other naval ships, Percy ended up in Southern India as he had been studying tropical diseases and hygiene, and served as a doctor to the RAF squadron teams in April 1944.

When the war ceased in 1945, Percy enrolled in a scheme for post-graduate studies for returning Medical Officers in Glasgow. He attended various courses and completed rounds in the Western Infirmary and the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow. Percy was then offered a temporary locum job in a General Practice in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, before moving on to the Samaritan Hospital in Glasgow, which had been purpose built for gynaecology cases. After this Percy became a House Surgeon at the Ayrshire Central Maternity Hospital in Irvine and from there got a job as a General Practitioner within a surgery in Irvine with Dr Gibson and Dr Taylor. Once the NHS began on the 4th July 1948 Percy relocated to Ayr where he and a partner set up their own General Practitioner's. The surgery grew and is today known as the ' Tam's Brig Surgery.'

Percy retired in 1981 to spend more time with his wife, Aileen Gerrard Digby, whom he met during the war when she was serving as a Surgeon Lieutenant in the Navy. They married on the 20th June 1946 and had four children, one of whom tragically died in 1988.

Dr Alexander Percy Walker died on 14 November 2012, aged 96 years.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically within record series.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Gift : Dr Alexander Percy Walker : 2002 and 2003 : ACCN 2313

Other Finding Aids

Digital file level finding aid available in the searchroom

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

None which affect the use of this material

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 248 procedures

Custodial History

Held by Dr Alexander Percy Walker until deposit with Glasgow University Archive Services.

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

No related material

Location of Originals

Records are original

Bibliography

Walker, Alexander Percy, Memoirs of Percy Walker. Yorkshire: Blaisdon Publishing , 2002 .

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives, ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999and National Council on Archives, Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated

Fonds level description compiled by Vikki Laidlaw, Assistant Archivist (Cataloguing), 12 June 2007