Memorial dedicated to Aberlour GP
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A TREE has been dedicated in memory of a much-loved Aberlour doctor who served as village GP for 36 years.
Dr John Caldwell, who was instrumental in the building of a new health centre in the community and for having a new secondary sited on Mary Avenue, passed away in 2016 at the age of 93.
A tree was later planted in honour of Dr Caldwell and his wife Margaret in the Alice Littler Park by the Alice Littler Memorial Trust, of which Dr Caldwell was an original member.
And on Saturday, it was dedicated in a ceremony led by Aberlour's locum minister, Reverend Morris Smith.
In attendance were the couple's daughters Jean and Anne, along with a group of invited guests. Sons Gordon and Kenneth, who are both also doctors, live in New Zealand.
Hugh Fraser, of the Community Association, said: "It is so appropriate the tree is in the park as John was a leading light in its creation.
"In fact, the layout of Alive Littler Park is based on a design he scribbled on a napkin when he was taking his daughter out for a meal in Edinburgh."
Born in Leith, John moved to Aberlour with his parents as a young boy when his father, also Dr John Caldwell, joined the family practice at Dunleigh on Queen’s Road.
Built by Dr John’s grandfather Dr Thomas Sellar, the name Dunleigh is Gaelic for doctor’s house. After studying medicine at Aberdeen University Dr John was a medical officer in the RAF, serving in Libya for two years.
On his return to Aberlour he became the third generation of doctors to practise in the village, working alongside his aunt Beatrice Sellar, who was known as Dr Bea.
During his career, he saw the arrival of the NHS and the introduction of penicillin.
Prepared for any weather, he would keep a pair of skis in the boot of his car so he could make house calls even if roads were blocked by drifting snow.
His community involvement stretched into nearly every area of village life and he was recognised with an MBE for services to the community.
Margaret also contributed heavily to the local community and, as well as running art classes, was a member of the community association and a great supporter of St Margaret's Church.
