Surgeon calls time on 40-year career

Prof Rowley, 61, served as director of education for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and was also visiting professor of surgical education at the University of Edinburgh from 2004 until 2009.

He currently lives in Arbroath with his wife, Ingrid, and has two grown-up children, Kristina and Andrew.

In his retirement he is looking forward to spending time in France, visiting his three grandchildren and continuing his interest in 20th-century history.

He will, meanwhile, remain a consultant in legal matters and carry out work for the General Medical Council, but has decided it is time to make way for younger orthopaedic surgeons.

Prof Rowley began his medical studies at Aberdeen University in 1969 and was a lecturer at the University of Sheffield and a senior lecturer at the University of Manchester before taking up a post at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in 1988 as professor of the university Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery.

He has gained many distinctions during his career, including the Gold College Medal and Syme’s Medal, both awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.

He also served abroad as a war surgeon for the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Sudan and Afghanistan.

During his time in the Capital he delivered many lectures as part of the Edinburgh Lectures series speaking on topics such as Landmines, Bombs and Bullets – a Public Health Issue, in which he discussed the human cost of war.

He also had published a number of books and papers on a range of subjects such as Skeletal Injuries in Old Age (1994), Surgery of Disorders of the Foot and Ankle (ed, 1996), Clinical Surgery (1996 and 2003), War Wounds with Fractures: A Guide to Surgical Management (1996 and 2002), and The Musculoskeltal System (with JA Dent, 1997).

NHS Tayside chairman Sandy Watson met Prof Rowley to congratulate him on his career and his many achievements and to wish him well in his retirement.

Mr Watson said: “Professor Rowley will be sadly missed both professionally and personally by all those that have worked with him over the years.

“He has always gone that extra mile in providing an exceptionally high standard of orthopaedic care, as well as excellent support and encouragement to all his colleagues, and particularly to junior staff and students. Prof Rowley has been kind enough to share with me the wisdom of his experiences of working in the NHS and I personally wish him the very best for the future.”