Walter W Yellowlees

The Scottish Group of the McCarrison Society celebrated their founder's 90th birthday at Jamesfield Organic Restaurant, Abernethy, Perthshire on 14th April 2007. Just under 24 friends enjoyed a meal of organic food and wine in a relaxed atmosphere. Wattie was presented with the Scottish McCarrison Medal to acknowledge his outstanding contributions to health following the priniples of Sir Robert McCarrison.

Walter with fellow Scottish McCarrisons

The birthday party having lunch

Cedric de Voil's address

Cedric presents the medal

Walter's response

Jock's comments

Cedric de Voil's address

It gives me great pleasure to say a few words about Wattie on this special day. Reaching 90 years and remaining so sprightly, both mentally and physically, is a great advertisement for all that Wattie has promoted throughout his long medical career and subsequent very active retirement.

Everybody here today has known Wattie through the establishment of the Scottish Group of the McCarrison Society or from his interests in nutrition from long before that. Wattie has been a member of the Soil Association for almost 60 years and he was a founder member of the McCarrison Society.

I first heard about Wattie when he was asked to deliver the Sir James McKenzie Lecture at the Annual General Meeting of the Royal College of General Practitioners in London in 1978. This lecture was entitled “Ill Fares the Land”. This was published along with Lady Eve Balfour’s “The Living Soil” by the Wholefood Trust in 1989. I met Wattie for the first time at a conference at the University of Edinburgh that he organised on the subject of “Bread” in 1981 when the Scottish Group was launched.

Wattie is featured in a book called “Ten Tayside Doctors” by Tayside Surgeon JSG Blair which was published in 1990. I seem to remember Wattie receiving a copy of this book when he became 80. Wattie has written about his medical experiences in General Practice in Aberfeldy in his book “A Doctor in the Wilderness”. It is a very good read and is packed with Wattie’s observations about the links between inadequate nutrition and degenerative medical conditions to be found throughout Highland Perthshire. His remarks are just as relevant to the Scottish urban situation.

Wattie, I can remember when you retired as Chairman of the Scottish Group, that we presented you with a spade. At that time you suggested that you would go and dig a grave with it. You have specifically requested not to be given a present on this occasion and we have heeded your request.

However, we do not want such an occasion as your 90th birthday to go by without something tangible being given to you by all your friends here today. I have great pleasure, therefore, in awarding you the first Scottish McCarrison Medal.

The inscription reads :

“The Scottish McCarrison Medal
Awarded to Dr Walter Walker Yellowlees on 14th April 2007 To acknowledge outstanding contributions to health following the principles of Sir Robert McCarrison”.

The Scottish McCarrison Medal will be awarded from time to time by the Scottish Group.

I would like to end by wishing Wattie a very happy birthday.

Cedric de Voil
Chairman, Scottish Group