Dr Kate Robertson
Doctor in Malawi Born: October 21, 1921; Died: August 11, 2016. GLASGOW-BORN Dr Kate Robertson, who has died aged 94, pursued a distinguished and dedicated career as a doctor in some of the most turbulent areas of Africa. In the late 1950s Dr Robertson (nee Katherine Cameron) and her husband, the Rev Lindesay Robertson, a Christian missionary, were working in Nyasaland. Her care for the sick made Dr Robertson widely respected for her diligent service, calm resolve and unselfish support of the native Malawians. She was held in similar esteem to the Scottish missionary of a previous century, David Livingstone.
The Hon Consul of Malawi, Dr Peter West, wrote in tribute of Dr Robertson’s work: “Dr Kate will be remembered in Malawi for her steadfast support over three key decades in its history.
“As a doctor she improved the lives of innumerable Malawians, helping to establish the country’s whole health care structure.”
Dr Robertson’s mother died when she was an infant and she was brought up by her father, Dr Angus Cameron, part of whose practice was in the Gorbals.
She followed her father into the medical profession and in 1952 she was treating a patient who had had a bad climbing accident and was to spend three years on crutches. He was Lindesay Robertson and they married in 1954.
He then trained for the ministry at Trinity College, Glasgow, and on qualifying joined the Iona Community in 1956. Both became devoted workers on the community’s behalf and were associate members of the Community.
In 1959 Mr Robertson joined the Mulanje Mission in Nyasaland and acted as minister of the Synod of Blantyre of the Church of Central Africa and Dr Robertson as a doctor throughout the widely spread community.
The Protectorate of Nyasaland was in a state of great political upheaval with much tension between the local Africans and the white-dominated Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
The Robertsons played a diplomatic role in supporting the Nyasas to secede from the federation but expatriates, mostly tea planters, supported the federation.
After Malawi was independent in 1964 the political situation in Malawi somewhat settled down and Dr Robertson was appointed medical officer in charge of Mulanje District.
But the pressure on Dr Robertson to administer to the sick was immense – she was the only doctor for miles around and the Robertsons were often asked to advise on social and rural matters – especially the improvement of water supply.
After eight years Mr Robertson became an officer in the rural development offices of the Malawi government where he and his wife worked tirelessly on improving the living conditions in the villages. They were much involved in upgrading the water supply in Zomba, then capital of Malawi.
Dr Robertson stood as a parliamentary candidate for the Malawi Congress Party at the first democratic elections in 1961. This earned her the fierce hostility of fellow whites, who dubbed her “Kwacha Kate” – a reference to the independence campaigners’ symbol of dawn. First intended as an insulting nickname, it later became a badge of honour among Malawians who recognised the quality of the young Scottish doctor who so ardently supported their cause.
Her devotion to her patients was legendary. Later she worked in Blantyre and Lilongwe, developing a national health service and teaching medical students.
In his eulogy Wellington Mandowa spoke movingly of the respect still felt for Dr Robertson in Malawi: “Kate and Lindesay were missionaries, better ... a couple with a Mission.”
All her life she was a voracious reader. After long hours in the hospital Dr Robertson came home, had a bath, a drink, supper and read a book. Her daughters, Fiona and Cathy, remember: “We had to leave mummy to have her bath and gin and tonic, then we could go and chat to her.”
In 1986, the Robertsons returned to the family home at Bragleenmore, Kilninver, in Argyll, a house that had been in the Robertson family for some years.
On her retirement from Africa Dr Robertson was awarded an OBE for her work in Malawi.
They were both much involved throughout the Kilninver community, with the Argyll Highland Games and especially the kirk.
Wellington Mandowa addressed his concluding remarks to Dr Robertson’s daughters: “The work your mum Kate together with your dad Lindesay did will continue shining on the hills of Malawi, the hills in Bragleenmore and the hearts of thousands of people.” Lindesay Robertson died in 2009. Dr Robertson is survived by their two daughters.