Thus I had many years to get to know George.  His fine, mischievous and very dry sense of humour was so subtle that he was often misunderstood.  Even after 40 years I was still occasionally taken in.  George greatly enjoyed playing the devil's advocate. This was a talent I often called on. When writing to the staff in my years as Clinical & Medical Director, I usually ran a copy past George before sending, to try to ensure that it wasn't possible to extract a meaning other than that which I had intended.  If George couldn't pick a hole in it, I felt that I was on pretty secure ground.

George always had time to consider fully anything put to him and to give a considered response.  This was never more so than in the planning of the new hospital, where he gave generously of his time in contributing to the meticulous planning of  ITU, theatres and the anaesthetic dept.

In later years, George embraced Tibetan Buddhism and spent time at the Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery at Eskdalemuir..  This fitted well with his reflective personality.  He had been retired for 5 years, but sadly, his metastatic disease process meant that only the early years of his retirement could be said to have been 'enjoyed'.  He bore his disease with fortitude and dignity.