Death, at 75, of Dr David Williamson (From Gazette & Herald)

Death, at 75, of Dr David Williamson

DAVID Williamson, one of Kirkbymoorside's best-known personalities, has died in hospital at the age of 75.

He had lived in the town for 45 years and practised there until his retirement 12 years ago.

The Edinburgh-born Dr Williamson spent his childhood in Penrith, where his father was a family doctor.

He had many interests in the Kirkbymoorside area, including at the parish church of All Saints, where he was a member of the church council and the Ryedale Deanery Synod, while he served for many years on the town council, being deputy mayor last year.

A long-serving school governor, he was a past chairman of both Ryedale School and Kirkbymoorside County Primary School.

Dr Williamson also served as a magistrate on the Ryedale bench, retiring in 1980.

One of his keenest interests was the town's Sportsfield and Recreation Ground Association, of which he was chairman.

His wife, Elizabeth, herself a retired medical practitioner, said: "He worked tirelessly for the association, especially for the recent building scheme."

She has asked that donations in his memory should be given to the association's building fund, which is experiencing a shortfall.

Dr Williamson had just completed an appeal letter seeking funds to repair the roof when he was taken ill, added Mrs Williamson.

Mrs Williamson said her husband had suffered from a heart complaint for a number of years. He had been taken to York District Hospital last Thursday and died in its intensive care unit on Monday.

He also leaves four children - Katriona, who is a doctor in New Zealand, Hugh, who is serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps, Fiona, a medical secretary in York, and Alistair, a consultant anaesthetist.

The funeral is to be held at All Saints' Church on Monday at 2pm.

Updated: 11:42 Wednesday, May 12, 2004