Desmond whyte

He would never leave his department, no matter how late the hour, until all radiographs of the day had been reported on. In retirement, he paid close and admiring attention to the further development of the department of radio-diagnosis. His professional diligence and determination was undoubtedly influenced by his experience in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

As a lieutenant colonel working behind enemy lines in Burma in , he practiced under conditions of extreme deprivation and danger. A fellow officer, Richard Rhodes James, in his book Chindit London, Sphere, wrote of Whyte: "Doc Whtye worked all through the day and most of the night still whistling to himself Moonlight becomes you , and still hopelessly out of tune. He used to go about clad only in the briefest of loin-cloths and carrying his carbine. I half expected him to take to the trees, until I saw him handle his patients and then realized where he belonged!

He was keenly interested in BMA affairs throughout his long career and had the pleasure of hosting the BMA scientific meeting in Altnagelvin Hospital in He considered it to be a very special honour when he was appointed a fellow of the British Medical Association in in recognition of his services to the Association. Outside of medicine his interests were many and to all he devoted great energy.

For over 30 years he was involved with the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, serving successively as area commissioner and president. His work was recognised with an award of Knight of Justice of the Order. His character and personality, moulded by experience in the Royal Army Medical Corps, in which he trained as a radiologist and passed the FFR examination in , made Desmond Whyte an excellent choice to undertake the organisation of radiology in the north-west of Ireland.

He was appointed consultant radiologist to the new Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, after his retirement from the army in He established a modern department of radiology with the state-of-the-art equipment and worked single-handed tirelessly for many years providing an outstanding radiological service to Derry and the adjacent counties, including Donegal.

He was never known to leave his department, no matter how late the hour, until all the radiographs of the day had been reported. He was responsible for organising a postgraduate medical centre and library followed by a school of radiography.

The development of the school of radiography with Tom Lee, the superintendent radiographer, was one of his greatest achievements. It was run on military lines, particularly with regard to punctuality, turn-out and decorum, especially in relation to patients. The radiographers of his school were very successful in their examinations.

They are renowned as being highly trained and competent and have been appointed to many hospitals throughout the UK and Ireland. He was an active member of the Ulster Radiological Society and its president in Desmond Whyte was invited to become a member of the 25 Radiology Visiting Club just after its formation in He was a regular contributor and never failed to make stimulating presentations resourced from his huge practice.

These were delivered with his renowned style and erudition punctuated by a disarming slight stutter. He was most generous in providing a loan or copies of some magnificent cases for teaching files. It is very much regretted that due to his hospital and other local commitments he was unable to make a greater contribution to the Faculty of Radiologists of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, but for many years he was a regular attendant at the annual meeting and dinner, at which he was very popular with his many friends.

Col Whyte made many outstanding contributions to the community, especially in his own city. He served as justice of the peace and High Sheriff for the county borough. It was run on military lines, particularly with regard to punctuality, turn-out and decorum, especially in relation to patients.

The radiographers of his school were very successful in their examinations. They are renowned as being highly trained and competent and have been appointed to many hospitals throughout the UK and Ireland. He was an active member of the Ulster Radiological Society and its president in He was a regular contributor and never failed to make stimulating presentations resourced from his huge practice. These were delivered in his renowned style with erudition, punctuated by a disarming slight stutter.

He was most generous in providing a loan or copies of some magnificent cases for teaching files. It is very much regretted that due to his hospital and other local commitments he was unable to make a greater contribution to the Faculty of Radiologists of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland but for many years he was a regular attender at the annual meeting and dinner at which he was very popular with his many friends.

Colonel Whyte made many outstanding contributions to the community, especially in his own city. He served as a Justice of the Peace and as High Sheriff for the county borough.