Consultant orthopaedic surgeon specialising in joint disease

Born: September 11, 1942;

Died: August 28, 2018

JIMMY Loudon, who has died aged 75 after more than 15 years of Parkinson’s Disease, was a fine, caring consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow and Wrightington Hospital in Lancashire with a special interest in joint disease and prostheses for hip and knee replacement.

He was born to James and Annie Loudon in 1942 - a middle child and a brother to Anne and John - and grew up in Newton Mearns. His mother was a talented pianist who sometimes played ragtime which he loved and from which he graduated to rock n roll, blown away by Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard.

Self-taught on the guitar, he played at concerts and parties and in the 70s and 80s composed many songs which he recorded and performed with his nephew Jimmy Robertson’s group Chymaera. His love of music never faded although illness destroyed his manual dexterity, and with it his ability to play his guitar.

He was educated at Hutchesons’ Grammar School at the boys’ school in Crown Street in the Gorbals where he thrived academically. He also developed a passion for sports, particularly rugby and golf. He favoured the centre three quarter position on the rugby field and he played with a natural talent.

He studied medicine at Glasgow University, graduating MB ChB in 1966; and MSc in physiology in 1969; and FRCS in 1972. He remained in Glasgow to train in surgery at the Western Infirmary. In 1978 he won a BOA travelling scholarship. He travelled throughout the UK and Europe and undertook further training at the London and Wrightington Hospitals.

While in London as an orthopaedic trainee, he was appointed as team doctor to West Ham football club, an appointment which he adored.

He had continued to play rugby throughout his younger life, playing for Hutchesons’ FPs, Glasgow University, the British Medical Student Association’s seven-a-side team and ultimately joining Whitecraigs, playing alongside his lifelong friend Jimmy Love.

He married Carol in 1971 and they subsequently had three children - Jenifer, James and Kirsty. He was a proud and loving father.

In 1979 he was appointed to his first consultant post, at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow bringing his increasing knowledge and expertise with him. He had developed a special interest in revision hip surgery.

The orthopaedic driving force in his life was the promotion of the low friction arthroplasty developed by Prof Sir John Charnley. In 1996 Jimmy Loudon was invited back to the Wrightington Hospital, to be part of the revision hip surgery team. He became clinical drector until he had to retire in 2001.

He continued to meet the group of young orthopaedic trainees that he had met in his training, and with Bob Johnson, Jimmy formed the Haversian Society. The group met annually to discuss their research, their ideas and discuss cases. They now meet annually, socially.

Early in his retirement and now back in Glasgow, Jimmy and Carol rejoined friends who had started a country dancing group with the aim of participating in the annual Glasgow Highland Club Ball. Jimmy danced until no longer able to. The group goes on meeting and dancing.

Back in Glasgow he rekindled his passion for golf. He met with his old cronies from the rugby and golf clubs. He formed the Whitecraigeans, a group of golfers and silver surfers. They played and met weekly at golf clubs near and far. Jimmy Loudon’s weekly email blog on the group’s activities was a searing round up of good and bad performances, written with the humour and acerbic wit that we all know him for. The Whitecraigeans are still going strong.

He delighted in his growing number of grandchildren, whom he enjoyed and loved. They remained his lasting pride and joy. First, Lily then Hector, Isabella and Adair. You can only imagine the children’s delight when granny and grandpa moved to the seaside.

Jimmy Loudon’s home for the last years of his life was Crail. He could paint in the garden studio of the new house overlooking the sea. His style has been described as a vibrant colourist. His approach was to put his paints into an ice cube tray and, using a three-inch brush or spatula, pick up several colours at a time. He mixed them on the canvas. This had interesting results. Accuracy was not his forte. He painted with feeling and originality. During this time he won two awards for his art work in competitions held by the charity, Parkinson’s UK, and travelled proudly to London to receive his awards.

He continued to enjoy all his passions in Crail: ice-creams and beach walks with his grandchildren, watching sports with his son James and his sons- in law, Grant and Aaron, blasting out rock and roll at all times of the day (or night) at home or at his day care centre in Anstruther. Despite his increasing disability, he continued to enjoy and relish the faithful and frequent visits from family and friends. He always had his characteristic twinkle in his eye for any visitor.

He is survived by his wife Carol, daughters Jenifer and Kirsty and son James and four grandchildren.

ROGER QUIN