Former Dunfermline GP Bill Cross died suddenly at the age of 71. The news was shared with members of the Rotary Club of Dunfermline, of which he was a former member, and the community has been flooded with tributes.
Legacy in Medicine
Dr William Alexander Cross, known as Bill, was a graduate of Edinburgh University Medical School and followed in the footsteps of his father, who was also a GP in Fife. He first met fellow retired GP and Rotarian Dr Gerry Gillespie in 1983, when Bill was a senior house officer in obstetrics at Forth Park Hospital in Kirkcaldy. Bill later joined Dr Frater’s practice in Viewfield Terrace before helping to develop a modern surgery on Bellyeoman Road, with additional GPs and support staff. Gillespie recalled that Bill was “extremely hard working”, taking on extra overnight and weekend sessions which allowed him to retire early. After retirement, Bill and his wife Agnes moved to the Isle of Harris, where they built their dream home and ran a holiday accommodation business.
Personal Life and Interests
Away from medicine, Bill was a keen sportsman and outdoor enthusiast. He completed all of Scotland’s Munros, excelled at golf and enjoyed football and tennis in his younger years. A committed Dundee United supporter, he travelled with Dr Gillespie to Germany in 1987 to watch the Tannadice side beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0. Gillespie said, “Bill was a character. Once you met him, you wouldn’t forget him. A very caring and attentive GP.”
Family and Funeral
Bill was the husband of Agnes, father of Catriona, Alasdair and the late Norman, father-in-law to Andrew and Joyce, brother to Helen, and grandfather to James, Cameron, Hannah, Charlotte and Elijah. The family described him as a “beloved” husband, “cherished” father and “one-of-a-kind, fun-loving” grandfather. His funeral service was held at North Harris Free Church on Friday, August 14.
