Dr Alfred Augustine Wild
Dr Alfred Augustine Wild
Alfred Wild was born in Yorkshire in 1925, the youngest of eight children including his elder brother, Patrick, who was severely autistic. He was educated at Keighley Boys Grammar School before studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1948. Following this he completed two years of national service, including a year as Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services for the Lowland District of the Scottish Command.
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9th August 1925 to 28th July 2016
He commenced training in diagnostic radiology in 1952 at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, after which he was appointed to the post of Consultant Radiologist in Scarborough. During his time at Scarborough he was elected to the position of Postgraduate Tutor and on his retirement, in 1988, the main lecture theatre of the new Postgraduate Centre was named in his honour.
A keen aviator, Alfred obtained his pilot’s licence in 1967 which he maintained until his mid-80s. He co-owned three light aircraft with a friend and the two regularly flew throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe. In the mid-1970s he was appointed as the Civil Aviation Authority medical examiner for private pilots in East Yorkshire and held this post for 18 years.
Following retirement he moved to live in Coldstream with the family of his pilot friend, where he continued to fly and, in quieter moments, enjoyed walking his beloved collie dog. He took a keen interest in autism research, due to the condition of his late brother, and in this regard became a generous supporter of the University of Edinburgh. In 2010, as a result of his generosity, the University of Edinburgh opened the Patrick Wild Centre to study autism and related conditions. Although named for his brother, Alfred was clear it was also intended to honour his parents who cared for Patrick throughout his life. Alfred died peacefully in Kelso Community Hospital on 28 July 2016.
Memoir author: Dr Andrew Stanfield
