Club members John Dirks, Peter Kopplin, Christopher Rutty and Alison Li, along with colleagues Gary Goldberg, Erling Norrby of Stockholm and James Wright of Calgary and partners Christine Kopplin, Andrea Rutty, and Elsebeth Welander-Berggren were warmly welcomed to Aberdeen by John Otto and Kimberlie Hamilton, co-founders of the JJR Macleod Memorial Statue Society, and by our good friend Kenneth McHardy.
On the morning of 6 September 6 2024, our party helped to unveil a new set of cast bronze plaques commemorating Frederick Banting, Charles Best, James Bertram Collip and John James Rickard Macleod, the “Toronto Four” co-discoverers of insulin at the Macleod Memorial Statue in Aberdeen’s Duthie Park. A crowd of supporters cheered us on as piper Ian Dallas played “O Canada” and a pipe tune specially written for the memorial. Lord Provost David Cameron and Lord Dean of Guild Sylvia Halkerson and Mary Duncan, Honorary Consul for Canada in Scotland honoured us with their presence.
Later that day, Lord Dean of Guild Sylvia Halkerson graciously welcomed us to tea and a visit to the splendid Aberdeen Town Hall. At the University of Aberdeen, we were welcomed by Mirela Delibegovic, the Regius Chair of Physiology, the chair once held by JJR Macleod. We viewed Macleod’s Nobel citation and other artifacts at the Special Collections of the Sir Duncan Rice Library.
That afternoon, our group presented lectures about the co-discoverers of insulin at a symposium held in the beautiful King’s Auditorium. We were welcomed by Principal George Boyne via a video message and Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya, Vice-Principal (Global Engagement). We had a large and attentive audience and a lively discussion.
| “Toronto Four” Symposium | |
|---|---|
| Introduction | John Otto |
| Opening Remarks | John Dirks |
| First Session | |
| 100 Years of the Toronto Medical Historical Club | Peter Kopplin |
| Frederick G. Banting: A “Great Idea” Pursued with Dogged Determination Precipitated the Discovery of Insulin in Toronto | James Wright |
| Charles Best and the Making of Insulin | Christopher Rutty |
| Q & A | |
| Second Session | |
| “Such Wondrous Powers”: Collip’s Contribution to the Development of Insulin | Alison Li |
| JJR Macleod of Aberdeen & Toronto: Noble Scientist, Nobel Laureate | Ken McHardy |
| A Nobel Committee Uniquely Following Alfred Nobel’s Will | Erling Norrby |
| Concluding Remarks | John Dirks |
| Q & A | |
| Final Words | John Otto |
A birthday cake and toast marked JJR Macleod’s birthday. Our day ended with a memorable private dinner at Bieldside, the home originally built by Macleod in 1930. It was generously hosted by Neva and Roy Haites, the home’s current owners.
On 7 September, our wonderful hosts also treated us to a trip to the Braemar Gathering for an unforgettable day of Highland Games, full of caber-tossing, highland dancing, sack races and massed bands of pipes and drums. We were welcomed by Sandy Manson, the Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire shortly before he was to greet the King and the Queen.
On 8 September, our final day, we paid our respects at Macleod’s grave at Allenvale Cemetery and visited several important sites from his life, including Aberdeen Grammar School, Provost Skene’s House which houses his Nobel medal, and Marischal College where he studied 1893-98 and returned as Regius Professor in 1928. Kenneth McHardy was our knowledgeable guide to these sites on the “insulin trail.” Simon Welfare gave us a fascinating tour of the stately home Haddo House. Our very special weekend concluded with a sumptuous meal hosted by Sir James and Lady Gillian Milne to which we were piped in by Ken McHardy playing a splendid new pipe tune he composed for the occasion.
See also this excellent report “Honouring the ‘Toronto Four'” posted by the University of Aberdeen.
