‘Sir Kenneth Calman (25 December 1941 – 21 July 2025) was a doctor, academic and University leader who achieved more “firsts” than virtually anyone in his generation in medicine, public service and the third sector.’

His “firsts” include being the first Professor of Oncology (1974) at the University of Glasgow and being appointed as Chief Medical Officer for both Scotland and England. In 1989, he became Chief Medical Officer at the Scottish Home and Health Department and then was appointed to the same role in England (1991 to 1998).

His medical interests ranged from cancer treatment to palliative care and to medical ethics and he was an early evangelist for patient centred treatment.

Sir Kenneth’s motto was “Through learning I help others”, summing up the importance he placed on the value of education in his life. In fact, over a 22-year period until 2020, he held senior positions within higher education including Warden and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University (1998 to 2007) and then Chancellor of the University of Glasgow (2006 to 2020).

His life embodied the values of widening participation before it was a higher education concept. Sir Kenneth Calman was born in Knightswood, Glasgow on Christmas Day 1941 to Grace Douglas Don and Arthur McIntosh Calman. His beloved father Arthur died when he was nine, leaving his mother Grace and a close extended family to bring up Kenneth and his younger brother Norman.

Thanks to a scholarship, he entered the University of Glasgow to study medicine (MBChB, 1967), also picking up a science degree (BSc, 1964 ) on the way. He undertook a PhD (1971) in dermatology and received an MD with Honours (1975) in organ preservation. Sir Kenneth became Hall Fellow and lecturer in surgery at the University of Glasgow in 1969, and between 1972 and 1974, was a clinical research fellow at the Chester Beatty Research Institute in London, funded by the Medical Research Council.

In 1974, Sir Kenneth returned to Glasgow where he was appointed as Cancer Research Chair of Oncology. He became Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education in 1984. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) by the University of Glasgow in 1996.

When he stepped down in 2020 as the University of Glasgow’s Chancellor, he was in the unique position of having been a student, lecturer, professor, Dean and Chancellor at the same university over six decades. Sir Kenneth is the only Glasgow Chancellor to have graduated with a degree while in post: an MLitt in Scottish Literature and Medicine.

As a published author and poet, Sir Kenneth credited his love of literature and books to having access to public libraries, especially Knightswood Library. Later in life his dedication to libraries would see him hold positions as Chairman of the National Library of Scotland, Deputy Chair of the British Library and Honorary President of the Friends of Glasgow University Library, where he was also one of the founding members in 1977.

He was Chief Medical Officer in England during the BSE crisis and the MMR debate. He chaired the Commission on Scottish Devolution from 2008-9. The Calman Commission published its final report in June 2009 with one of the recommendations being that the Scottish Parliament receive greater tax-raising powers.

Sir Kenneth served as Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation and the European Environment and Health Committee as well as President of the Institute of Medical Ethics. He also held senior positions in a wide variety of organisations including the National Trust for Scotland (Chair), The National Cancer Research Institute (Chair) and The Boys’ Brigade (President).

He was a Fellow of several academic and professional bodies including the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 1996 he became a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and he was a Deputy Lieutenant in the City of Glasgow.

In an interview in 2019, speaking about his career, Sir Kenneth said: “I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve done, and I’ve not thought very much about the future. I’ve just done the job I was doing to the best of my ability. Opportunities come up and you can take them or not and I’ve generally taken them and generally enjoyed them.”

In 1967, he married Ann Wilkie, who studied teacher training at Jordanhill College. Sir Kenneth took great pride and joy in the achievements of his children, Andrew, Lynn and Susan. His grandchildren Grace and Brodie were the delight of his life. He embraced life to the full, and was never far away from pen and paper, putting down his thoughts and feelings. His greatest delight was walking his dogs on Blackwaterfoot beach in Arran.

First published: 28 July 2025

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