Martin Whittet was born in Glasgow on 12 November 1918. Both his parents were teachers. His secondary education was at Glasgow High School, where his father taught art. In 1942 he graduated from Glasgow University Medical School and moved on to pre-registration posts at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. After full registration he was appointed, in 1943, to Glasgow Royal Mental Hospital, rising to the post of Deputy Physician Superintendent. In 1951, aged 33, he became Physician Superintendent at Craig Dunain Hospital, Inverness, responsible for mental healthcare in the Highlands and Islands, at which time he was the youngest doctor ever appointed to such a post. He set about modernising his hospital and changing public attitudes to mental health. To further this aim, he travelled widely in the Highlands, giving lectures to the lay public by invitation. His special interests were in alcoholism, depression, psychosexual problems and forensic psychiatry. He was a major contributor to the medical literature in his own field of psychiatry and published several books of interest to the public at large.

His contribution to medicine was recognised by the award of OBE in 1973. He initiated and was a lifelong strong supporter of Alcoholics Anonymous in the Highlands. Nationally, he was a Government Psychiatric Advisor to Scotland and Psychiatric Consultant to HM armed forces and HM prisons. His post demanded an appreciable amount of travelling, often by motor car, for which he had a driver who was the Craig Dunain farm lorry driver. I was duly impressed by this unusual member of his team, who was good company for many a mile, since Martin himself was not keen about driving. After retirement he passed this chore onto his wife to whom he also passed on much advice from the passenger seat.

Craig Dunain, when Martin arrived there, had a farm and a large pond in a tree-sheltered area of the grounds. When he left at retirement the hospital had an ornamental pool with ducks and other waterfowl, a soccer pitch, tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, and a bowling green. His kindness, care and humanity were outstanding. There was always a coin or two in his pocket for children he met, and always a dog biscuit too for his dog friends. He retired in 1983 and pursued golf, fishing and the cultures of Gaeldom, including music, even learning Gaelic. In addition to direct clinical practice, he still read his BMJ and publications from the Colleges to which he belonged. He even found time to help out the St Andrew’s Ambulance Association by examining aspirant first-aiders for their proficiency badge. Martin was also a Knight of Grace in the Grand Commandery of Lochore, of the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem.

He was an avid reader, consuming several newspapers a day. He was also an excellent raconteur. His love affair with the telephone was well known to many of his friends and colleagues. He loved the outdoor life, particularly in Wester Ross-Shire and in the Borders, where he had numerous friends. He was a sincere animal lover, happy when walking his devoted dogs, but he was never happier than when Scotland won a rugby international. His contribution to the Highlands and Scotland will not be forgotten. He died on 10 December 2009 and is survived by his wife of 62 married years, a daughter, three sons, and eight grandchildren.