WH FINDLAY, a distinguished physician who gained an enviable reputation as a photographer and historian of his adopted city of Perth, has died aged 94.

Born in Glasgow, William Hall Findlay was educated at Allan Glen's School. The first two years were in the wooden annexe in North Hanover Street. He showed an early interest in botany, gaining a prize for his wild-flower collection, but he was more at home on the sports field than in the classroom. He shone at athletics and rugby, and was junior school sports champion (under-15), forwhich he gained a gold medal.

Before leaving Allan Glen's, he realised he did not have university entrance qualifications, so had to spend a year being tutored in Latin (for Lower Latin) and studying for Higher maths. He entered Glasgow University in 1931 - and immediately showed potential by winning the John Huntermedal for practical botany at the end of his first year.

He qualified MB ChB with commendation in 1936, then assisted elder brother Tom in general practice in Thurso for nine months. Three years later he qualified in public health (DPH), also at Glasgow University.

WH F became resident medical officer at Knightswood Hospital in 1938. In 1939 he transferred to Mearnskirk and later that year was in charge of evacuated patients from Mearnskirk, who sailed from Renfrew Pier for Millport. By the end of the year he was appointed assistant medical officer of health, and tuberculosis officer for Stirlingshire.

At the end of the war he was appointed deputy medical officer of health and tuberculosis officer for Perthshire. Transferring to hospital service in 1948, on creation of the National Health Service, he spent the rest of his professional life as consultant in chest medicine in Perth, taking the opportunity of early retirement in 1970.

The other sides of his life were equally notable. First, photography played an important part in his daily activities. Having passed his examinations for associateship of the Royal Photographic Society, he became qualified as a professional photographer. Applying this qualification to his existing interests in architecture, history and archaeology, he produced, over 50 years, a pictorial record of the city of Perth.

A founder-member of the Perth Civic Trust in 1967, he was for a lengthy period its official photographer, recording in a professional capacity, for example, the restoration of the Roundhouse of the old waterworks.

He was president of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science for 10 years, and of the society's photographic section for three years.

Also a Rotarian for 25 years, he supported the Rotary movement wherever possible.

He was particularly active in community service, both in a voluntary capacity, and in his daily work - tuberculosis, as a community disease associated with poverty, gave ample opportunity for those with a caring approach to lend support. Until 1970 Perth did not have a Probus club for retired professional and business men. W H F was, through Rotary, appointed chairman of a committee given the task of setting up such a club. Perth Probus Club was set up on April 1, 1971. Perth now has several successful Probus clubs. Also through Rotary, he was the selected recipient of the Cairncross trophy, for service to Perth, in 1999.

From the early 1950s he had built up an extensive photographic record of the Perth townscape, including all its listed buildings. In the year 2000, the remaining copies of this record (more than 6000 signed prints, many with descriptive captions) were handed over to the A K Bell library for the use of the public.

His book, Heritage of Perth, published in 1984, used many of these photographs and was an immediate success, and earned him the D K Thomson award for his contribution to Perth's cultural life in that year. The book ran to a second edition in 1996, with a generous foreword by Magnus Magnusson. A leather-bound, signed copy was presented to the Prince of Wales at the ceremonial opening of the A K Bell library.

Perhaps his most notable creation was the Bertha Trust, formed in 1992 to help families in need in Perth and Kinross. It was started in memory of his wife, Marjorie, who died in 1991. In the first 10 years, the trust helped more than 700 families, many of them singleparent families.

Despite failing mobility following a fall and illness in the spring of 2003, William Hall Findlay retained an active and creative mind, and published a 2005 Tay calendarwith pictures from his slide collection.

A devoted team of carers and regular visits from his son and daughter allowed him to live happily in his own home until he died in his sleep.

William Hall Findlay; born November 8, 1911, died January 3, 2006.