Morag Crichton Timbury facts for kids

Morag Crichton Timbury (born McCulloch) was a Scottish doctor and scientist. She was born on 29 September 1930 and passed away on 28 April 2018. Dr. Timbury was an expert in virology (the study of viruses) and bacteriology (the study of bacteria). She also wrote many science books.

Early Life and Education

Morag Crichton McCulloch was born in 1930. Her parents were Dr. Esther Sinclair McCulloch and William McCulloch. She went to St Bride's High School in East Kilbride.

After high school, Morag studied medicine at the University of Glasgow. She earned her first medical degree in 1953. Later, she received advanced degrees, an MD in 1960 and a PhD in 1976. These degrees showed her deep knowledge in medicine and science.

A Career in Science

After finishing her studies, Dr. Timbury began her important work. From 1960 to 1963, she worked at the Regional Virus Laboratory in Ruchill Hospital in Glasgow. Here, she was a research fellow, focusing on virology.

Teaching and Research

Morag Timbury loved to teach and do research. She became a lecturer at the University of Glasgow in 1963. She taught bacteriology, which is the study of bacteria. She moved up to senior lecturer in 1965.

Later, in 1976, she became a Reader in virology. This meant she was a leading expert in her field. From 1978 to 1988, she was a Professor of Bacteriology. She also led the Department of Bacteriology at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Leading Public Health

In 1988, Dr. Timbury took on a big role. She became the Director of the Central Public Health Laboratory. This laboratory was part of the Public Health Laboratory Service. She held this important position until 1995.

Dr. Timbury also shared her knowledge around the world. She was a visiting professor in Houston, Texas, United States, in 1975. She also visited the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, in 1990. From 1997 to 1999, she was an Honorary Visiting Professor at Imperial College School of Medicine.

The Timbury Report

In 1998, Dr. Timbury was part of a special group. This group looked at how scientific services related to food were managed in Scotland. The report they wrote was named "The Timbury Report" after her. This shows how respected she was in the scientific community.

Important Books

Dr. Timbury wrote or helped write many important articles and books. These books helped other doctors and scientists learn about viruses and bacteria. Some of her well-known books include:

• Medical Virology, published in 1991.
• Notes on Medical Bacteriology, which she co-authored with J. Douglas Sleigh. This book had several editions.
• Essentials of Immunology and Microbiology, which she co-authored with Robert G. White.

Awards and Recognitions

Morag Timbury received many awards and honors for her work. These awards showed how much her contributions to medicine and science were valued.

• In 1974, she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
• She became a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in 1976.
• In 1979, she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
• She also became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1994.

Personal Life

Morag Timbury was married to Professor Gerald Charles Timbury. He was also a respected doctor and a consultant psychiatrist. He was the Dean of post-graduate medicine at the University of Glasgow. They had one daughter named Judith. Morag Timbury passed away in Edinburgh in 2018.