Dr John Calvert 1939 - 2009

It was with great shock and sadness that all at the St John Eye Hospital Group learned of the death of Priory Scotland Hospitaller, Dr John Calvert, who passed away on Sunday 4th October, while on a visit to the Hospital in Jerusalem.

John Anthony Calvert BSc MB ChB DObstRCOG became a Serving Brother of the Order of St John in Scotland in 1979, and was promoted through the grades to that of Knight in 1996. He had for many years been the Chairman of St John Dumfries and Galloway, leading various initiatives in his area, such as a palliative care unit in Stranraer Hospital and the funding of nurses for ‘Hospice at Home’ care. He was a long-serving member of the Scottish Priory Chapter and became the Priory Hospitaller in 2001. He had made various visits to the Hospital and was a champion of its cause, especially securing funding for specialist training for Palestinian doctors on the hospital staff.

Dr Calvert was a GP in Stranraer and other parts of the UK, including Norfolk, though he himself came from the north of England.  He gave many talks promoting the Hospital.

He will be remembered as an absolutely delightful person by all those who knew him: always cheerful, positive and friendly with a keen sense of humour.

He had just turned 70. He will be a great loss.