Dr H.J.C. Scrimgeour, 1932–2016

Dr Harry Scrimgeour passed away from pancreatic cancer after a long and varied career as a general practitioner. Left to mourn is Ismay, his wife of 50 years, as well as many relatives, friends, and colleagues from around the world.

Dr Srimgeour was born in Malaya while his physician father was practising medicine in that part of the British Empire. At age 5 he was sent home to Dollar Academy Boarding School in Scotland along with his brother, Neil, and graduated from medical school at the University of St. Andrews in 1957.

Called for national service, Dr Scrimgeour joined the Royal Army Medical Corp and was initially sent to Singapore but was later seconded to the King Edward VII Gurkhas and posted to northern Malaya and Borneo. Following his national service, he worked in Singapore before joining his physician brother, Neil, in Perth, Australia. He then served at the Grenfell Mission in northern Newfoundland for 8 years, followed by a return to Australia for 3 years, and 2 years spent teaching family practice residents through the University of Mississippi, in Jackson, before he realized that Vancouver was the place to live and practise.

During his 18 years in Burnaby, Dr Scrimgeour worked with Dr Ann Byrne and Dr Shelley Ross in a full-service family practice. He was always good with a scalpel and included many an office procedure for his patients in his practice.

Dr Scrimgeour had always been a great athlete, and swimming became a passion in his later years. He also spent his leisure time reading nonfiction and traveling, and developed an interest in gemology while in Vancouver.

Dr Scrimgeour was greatly adored by his patients, who were sad to see him retire to his Scottish homeland. He moved back to Crail, a stone’s throw from St. Andrews—where his medical career began—and was cared for in his last days in the setting where he trained.
—Shelley Ross, MD
Burnaby