William Fyfe

Died: October 15, 2015

WILLIAM Stevenson Fyfe, or Bill as he was known, who has died aged 80, was a well-known figure in public and business life in Ayrshire and beyond. In public life he was initially a local councillor and Baillie of the old Prestwick local council, and was appointed to Ayrshire & Arran Health Board. He then went on to become a major figure in the significant changes in healthcare organisation and delivery in the 1980s and 90s both locally and nationally.

Though born in Glasgow, he was he son of Dr Andrew Fyfe, a New Cumnock GP. His wife Netta was also brought up in Ayrshire, together with his brother Robin, and he was always proud of his Ayrshire roots.

His father was the first doctor on site at the Knockshinnoch Colliery disaster in 1950, and when he died in 1953 the miners lined the streets of New Cumnock as a mark of their respect.

The young Bill was educated at Dollar Academy and went on to the Scottish College of Commerce for Business Studies. He worked with a variety of companies, RGN engineering, makers of electric fires, and Mair & McCartney, an engineering company, but with his family background of service to the community, public life called him, first as a Prestwick local councillor and then onto the health board, becoming its chairman – a post he held for three terms – some 12 years - being responsible for major healthcare developments in Ayrshire at that time.

This was a time of major healthcare restructuring and Bill was soon on the national stage, both in Scotland and at a UK level, as a major player in these changes, not only in discussing and developing policy but also in the delivery of improved services.

On the national level he was appointed to the chairmanship of the Scottish Health Service Advisory Council, and also to the Whitley Council, the national body at a UK level for determining terms and conditions of service of nursing and ancillary staff.

Whilst on the council he chaired the Fyfe committee which produced a major revision of the terms and conditions of service of nursing and midwifery staff.

As well as his national work he still found time to work directly and very effectively for Ayrshire, overseeing the opening of Crosshouse hospital as a replacement for Kilmarnock Infirmary, and the planning, construction, and delivery of the new Ayr Hospital, delivered on time and under budget – which took place completely during his time as chairman.

But he was not focussed only on acute services; this era also saw the development of Arrol Park as a new centre for those with learning difficulties, as well as a number of other developments.

He was strong leader with a definite style but he also was a team worker and his successes in Ayr were in no small measure due to the excellent team he had with him. He had a very engaging personality, and although he did not suffer fools gladly, he would always listen to new ideas especially if they promised to deliver benefits to patient care. He was not always liked for his views, but he was very well respected for his commitment to his work.

He was truly committed to his health service work, but unfortunately his own businesses were by comparison somewhat neglected, and accordingly suffered.

He did ,however, also play major parts in the development of the plans for Radio Ayrshire which went on to win the franchise and become West Sound radio. He was also a staunch supporter of the Glasgow Ayrshire society, a long standing Ayrshire charity.

His contribution to public life was recognised by the award of an OBE in 1987 followed by a CBE in 1992.

He was asked to take over as chairman of Greater Glasgow Health Board with a view to developing major changes in its management structure and to "improving its performance".

As always he went forward with a will, to deliver the task he had been set, albeit in challenging circumstances, but when it became clear that he was no longer being given the support he had been promised, he had no option but to resign.

After this significant event came another: a few weeks later, in early December, he had an accident on the A77 at one of its major accident black spots, and spent almost three weeks between intensive care and high dependency wards in Crosshouse before being able to be transferred back to the Ayr hospital.

His injuries required a significant time for recovery and rehabilitation, but a year later, he was once again involved in his community, working with Prestwick's Minerva housing association, an organisation helping with housing for the disabled which he remained a part of for 10 years.

He retired to France with his wife Margaret in 2004 to the village of Auriac sur Dropt where they enjoyed many happy days beside the pool, enjoying the food, the wine and the sunshine of the region, as well as the regular visits by the children and the grandchildren to share these simple pleasures, until the onset of his Alzheimer's made them decide to return in 2011.

He was cared for in his final year at Cumnor Hall Care home in Ayr where he retained the sparkling smile and charming manner which had been his lifetime trademarks, and finally passed away in his own Ayr Hospital.

He was predeceased by first wife Ena and is survived by his wife Margaret – they married in 1986 - two children by his first marriage, Susan and Andrew, two stepchildren, Susan and William and nine grandchildren.

PATRICK MCNALLY