A life of serving others
David Andrews was a highly committed doctor who devoted much of his life to serving others. The incredibly hard working doctor, who had a ‘‘thoughtful and caring’’ nature, died on February 9, aged 88.
Andrews was born in southeast London on January 24, 1930, to Leslie and Dorothy Andrews.
To escape aerial bombing from Nazi Germany during World War II, Andrews was evacuated from London to Cornwall alongside thousands of other British children. He started his high school years in London in 1941 at the age of 11 and attended Alleyn’s School – an Anglican school for boys. He was a keen student and excelled at school.
From an early age, Andrews was very focused on becoming a doctor and never wavered from his goal. He left Alleyn’s aged 16 and began a medical degree at Westminster Hospital Medical School. It was there Andrews met Julie Kingsford, a bright young nurse from New Zealand, and they began dating. Andrews graduated from Westminster as a qualified doctor in 1951 and married Kingsford two years later.
After completing his degree, Andrews joined the Royal Army Medical Corp and was posted to Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising in 1954. While there, he tended to the medical needs of about 2000 Mau Mau prisoners. He loved Kenya and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro was a cherished experience. He and Julie had their first two children, Tim and Sue, before returning to London in 1957 where Andrews obtained a Diploma of Child Health at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.
In 1958, the family moved to Rotorua, and Andrews worked as a GP at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for a year. The family then moved south to Waimate, where Andrews worked as a locum GP for another year before the family relocated to Christchurch. Andrews worked as a GP out of his two surgery centres on Cashel St and in Linwood.
Andrew’s son, Tim, said his father was an incredibly hard worker.
‘‘Mornings were filled with house visits, followed by surgery at home in the afternoons, and then three evenings a week at his second surgery in Linwood.’’
He said his father’s generosity as a GP was well known.
‘‘Dad had almost no interest in material possessions and he devoted much of his life to serving others in some way or another. He wouldn’t charge patients if he thought they couldn’t afford it,’’ he said.
In 1969, after having three more children, Andrews sold both his practices and moved to Dunedin. He spent a year there studying for a Diploma of Public Health, which he passed with distinction.
Andrews then became Deputy Medical Officer of Health for Christchurch and, as part of his role, was appointed to the Nelson Health District. The family moved to Wellington in 1971, where Andrews served in a similar role for the Hutt Health District.
Andrews’ final professional appointment, and perhaps his most demanding, was Superintendent of Christchurch Hospital. He served in this role from 1978 until his retirement in 1989.
Andrews then moved with Julie to a small farm in Riwaka, near Motueka. They worked from dawn to dusk developing the property, planting hundreds of trees. The pair returned to Christchurch in 1993, where they settled.
Tim said his father would be remembered for his love of music and fishing.
Andrews played the piano and cello and was involved with the Civic Music Council, was a member of the Cathedral Singers, and served on the Christchurch Cathedral Chapter.
‘‘It was Dad’s love for music that affected my life permanently when he encouraged me to join the Cathedral Choir as a chorister,’’ Tim said.
‘‘He loved attending and taking us to concerts.’’
Tim said fishing for trout at Apple Tree Bay, in the Abel Tasman National Park, remained one of the most memorable times he spent with his father.
Andrews’ brother, Adrian, said he had a huge influence on his life.
‘‘David was a thoughtful and caring brother and a huge influence on me, especially in my teenage years when he was very much a second father to me. I will really miss his presence and thank him for being such a large part of my life.’’
Andrews went to his brother’s school events whenever he could, met his teachers and went over his school reports, Adrian said.
David Andrews is survived by his wife Julie, brother Adrian, five children – Tim, Sue, Jane, Penny, and Louise – 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.