By Dr Margot McBride, research radiographer, UK and Scottish Council member for the Society and College of Radiographers
Avril Robertson Sibbald was born in 1931 in the 'Lang Toun' (a Scots nickname which means 'long town') of Kirkcaldy in Fife. Her father was a pharmacist, and she had two brothers - Dodo, a general practitioner and Jack, also a pharmacist.
Avril excelled at school, winning a voice speaking competition. During the late 1940’s she entered a two-year radiography course at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and joined the staff at the then Kirkcaldy General Hospital, now the Victoria. Avril’s leadership skills led to her becoming a senior radiographer, in 1958 a group superintendent, and then in 1970 a group superintendent radiographer at the East Fife Health Board.
Avril was an active member of advisory committees and became chairman of the Para Medical Advisory Committee at Fife Health Board and secretary of the Scottish Para Medical Consultative Committee for Radiography. In 1975, she was awarded the Kirkcaldy Rotary Club Health Service Person of the Year and was also a member of the Soroptimist’s in Kirkcaldy, loving the nature of Scotland and her beloved dogs.
My personal tribute to Avril is one of great thanks. I met Avril when I was 15, having left school to enter a pre-training staff registered nursing course with my placement being at the Kirkcaldy Orthopaedic Hospital. Avril appointed me to dark-room technician/receptionist, and on the first day of work, I changed my mind as I fell in love with radiography, but realised I didn’t have the necessary qualifications.
I spoke to Avril who persuaded the Principal of Kirkcaldy High School to allow me to go back to school to gain the qualifications and, if I was successful, promised me a job - the rest is history.
Avril was herself highly disciplined with conservative values and a dedication to caring for her staff and patients. Her natural exterior and inner beauty shone throughout her life and were infectious to those who were fortunate enough to work with her and be under her care. Her legacy lives on at the Victoria with excellent dedicated radiography staff who work tirelessly to care for their patients.
I attended her funeral on 3 September and met with many of her staff, including Dorothy Murray who was her deputy superintendent and who spoke so fondly of her, with happy memories that will live with all of us for the rest of our lives.