Tributes to beloved Inverness surgeon who was a "true inspiration"
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
HUNDREDS attended the funeral of a beloved Inverness consultant surgeon and professor who played a key role in improving medical services in the region.
Around 600 people gathered in the Highland capital for the funeral of Malcolm Laing (67), with 150 more live-streaming the event.
Originally from Dundee, Mr Laing moved to Inverness in 1989 where he worked as consultant ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon.
His family – wife Susan and sons Gavin, David and Martin – said the outpouring of love for their husband and father left them feeling "incredibly proud" of him.
They said: "It was humbling and comforting to see just how inspirational, valued and respected he was to so many people in his life, including family, friends, colleagues and patients.
"To see so many other people grieving at the funeral really showed us just how incredible a man he was and how big a role he played in so many people's lives.
"From the sheer number of people at his funeral it is clear he was greatly loved and admired.
"But above all, he was dearly loved by his family and his death leaves a huge space in all our lives. He was an extremely devoted husband and dad, and an especially doting grandpa.
"We are proud of his life’s work and his dedication to making other people’s lives better. He is a true inspiration to us and will be very sadly missed."
Mr Laing was also a professor of medical education at the University of Aberdeen, which he graduated from in 1979.
Throughout his career, he maintained strong links with the university and played a significant role in the design and delivery of their Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery programme (MBChB).
Among various achievements, he was instrumental in developing a remote and rural component within the curriculum, allowing medical students to be based in Inverness for a year, during which they could learn about the challenges of remote and rural medicine.
His family also shared that Mr Laing had his TV debut on STV’s Medics of the Glen, appearing in episode seven – which aired in 2003. Part of this episode showed a teenage girl travelling to Raigmore Hospital from north-west Scotland to have her eardrum repaired by him.
William McKerrow, a former colleague and friend, said it was a privilege to work with him.
He said: "Malcolm and I started ENT training together in Aberdeen in 1981 where we quickly became friends as well as colleagues and had a very enjoyable and indeed fun time learning about the specialty together.
"In 1989, I was delighted to welcome him as my consultant colleague in Inverness. Together we made it our objective of putting Inverness 'on the map' of ENT excellence in the UK and in making it the popular and highly successful ENT training centre for young surgeons in training in the specialty which it became.
"This was in no small part due to Malcolm’s diligence in developing his own skills and knowledge in the specialty but also his meticulous approach to the maintenance of standards in patient care and in looking for opportunities to improve the care available to Highlanders.
"Malcolm was a consummate team worker and had the capability to innovate and support others to develop their skills across the spectrum of the specialty of ENT."
He said that over time the reputation of the ENT service in the Highland region grew among their peers in the specialty. Later, when Mr Laing’s career diversified, he spent more time developing undergraduate medical education in the Highlands, which grew to be a substantial part of Aberdeen University’s Medical School.
Mr McKerrow added: "He particularly enjoyed working with babies and young infants and had a natural rapport with these children which is so important in the clinical assessment of hearing impairment.
"It was a privilege to work with Malcolm who played such a key part in the development of our service to patients in Highland and to contribute so much to our specialty and to medical education in the north."
A letter circulated at the University of Aberdeen read: "After retirement, Malcolm came back to work part-time in the Medical School for several years as the first overall lead in student support in relation to the curriculum.
"Throughout his career, Malcolm was an outstanding role model and provided support and mentorship for many, always with a sense of fun. We send our deepest sympathies to all his friends and family."
Angus Cain, Head of Service for ENT at Raigmore Hospital, said: “Malcolm was a well-liked and respected colleague and we were all shocked at the news of his death. He trained in ENT in Aberdeen and was a consultant in Raigmore for many years. He covered a wide range of ENT but his main subspecialty interests were in ear surgery and children’s' hearing problems. Over time, he became very involved with medical student education at Aberdeen University and was awarded the title of Professor of Medical Education.
“In more recent years he stepped back from ENT operating and on call duties but developed both paediatric services and balance services in Highland. He was a teacher, trainer, mentor and good friend to many and will be hugely missed.
“Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time."
