Tributes to doctor known for work on rheumatic diseases

The Herald Scotland

3 days ago

Died: June 25, 2025
Hilary Murdoch, who was died aged 75, was one of Scotland's most distinguished rheumatologists. She worked for many years as a consultant rheumatologist at the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and was best known to her colleagues and patients as Hilary Capell.
She was born in South Africa, a second daughter for Aubrey and Gladys, and grew up in Johannesburg with her older sister Janice. On leaving school, Hilary went on to study medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). She first came to Britain in 1970 to undertake a student elective at St Mary's Hospital in London. As this was such a positive experience, she returned later to tour more of the country and visited a friend working in Glasgow. Afterwards, back home in South Africa, she decided to return to Scotland to obtain the MRCP, a postgraduate medical qualification.
Her first post was as a senior house officer in medicine at Stobhill Hospital. During this time Hilary not only passed her exams but met her future husband Robert Murdoch, a mathematician. They married in 1976.
She quickly became an honorary Glaswegian although the finer points of the patter sometimes eluded her. An amused Robert received a call one morning with a question. She had seen three patients who all told her they had the dry boak – did he know what this was? Later as a consultant, she was at a loss when referred to as the heid bummer!
Attracted by the work of Professor Watson Buchanan who had not long before established the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases in Baird Street, Hilary was appointed as a registrar in his unit and began her career in rheumatology. She thrived there and became a consultant at the early age of 29 at a time when there were very few senior medical women.
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Hilary enjoyed her clinical work and the care of patients with rheumatic diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis, also drove her research. Her main research interest lay in the use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The aim was to reduce disease activity in inflammatory arthritis and thereby improve the lives of affected individuals.
When her work began there were very few good therapeutic options. She initially studied the use of gold, penicillamine and sulfasalazine and later the pros and cons of corticosteroids in rheumatoid arthritis. She also considered other interventions such as the effects of a Mediterranean-type diet. Research findings were regularly presented with her team at many national and international meetings and published in both medical and rheumatology journals. She led the working group for the SIGN Guideline on the Management of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (2001).
Over the years, Hilary inspired a number of young doctors to enter her speciality and she mentored many trainees, some of whom went on to become consultants themselves. She asked searching questions and had high standards but was, at the same time, supportive and encouraging, quick to look for a silver lining rather than dwell on a setback. She was also formidably well organised but her superpower was undoubtably her ability to get people to do things – people who sometimes afterwards wondered what on earth had induced them to take the task on.
Hilary contributed to medicine more widely and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, served on its council and examined in its postgraduate exams. She was made an honorary professor by Glasgow University. After she retired in 2008 she continued to support Pharmacy NHS Education for Scotland for several years.
In retirement, her interest in fostering the potential of young people continued. She and Robert answered an advert for the Intergenerational Mentoring Network in the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Strathclyde University. This led to them providing additional support to young people at Springburn Academy who wished to go on to university. Hilary was particularly interested in trying to help those keen to pursue careers in healthcare. More recently, she and Robert were providing support to young people studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Foremost among Hilary's interests was her passion for travel and not many places in the world were left unexplored. Difficult conditions didn't put her off and she remained unruffled by technical hitches such as being stranded on a sandbank in a small boat in the middle of an Indian river when the boatman became disorientated in thick early morning fog. She was never happier than when on safari in Africa or India observing wildlife in their natural surroundings.
Back home in Glasgow she enjoyed long, chatty lunches often tucked away in a corner of the Buttery. On one such occasion the group knew that they had definitely overstayed their welcome when a staff member very politely asked if they would like him to call them a taxi.
She did of course have a few foibles. High on the list of these was her favourite drink which was unusually, indeed unnaturally, weak tea. The brew consisted of sugary (very) hot water over which tea leaves were transiently wafted. Virtually no-one other than herself could ever make this to her specifications.
Although Hilary lived in Scotland for over 50 years, she never forgot her South African roots. She kept in close touch with her family and visited every year with Robert, sometimes taking Scottish friends with them.
Hilary and Robert were a devoted and highly sociable couple with many friends. They were the organisers of many get-togethers, away days and theatre visits. A tremendous double act who marked their 49th wedding anniversary earlier this year.
By any standard, Hilary's was a life well lived and enjoyed to the full on her own terms. Who among us could ask for more.
ELAINE MORRISON AND ROBERT MURDOCH
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