Malcolm Busfield (OW 1954)

22 June 1935 – 2023

The Waynflete Office has been informed by his son Paul of the death of Malcolm Busfield. We send our condolences to his children Paul, Rebecca and Rachel, and Malcolm’s other family and friends.

We are grateful for these words provided by his daughter Rebecca, and are most grateful for the legacy Malcolm left to MCS.

Malcolm was born in 1935 in Guildford but grew up in Moreton-in-Marsh during the Second World War. Surviving nearby Luftwaffe bombs he was made of stern stuff. His father had left the family farm in Horsforth to become a municipal engineer and surveyor, and Malcom inherited his love of the countryside, architecture and a Yorkshire spirit.

After the War, Malcolm’s family moved to Headington. He passed the 11+ exam for Magdalen College school and was a day boy in Wilkinson-Blagden. The headmaster was R Stanier and Revd Fisher took the service in Chapel at the start of each day. Malcolm was taught to row on the Isis by D Clarke and had success at the Maiden Eights in 1954. He was a member of the Sea Scouts run by H Symonds who organised camps in Beddgelert and Barmouth Estuary. He recalled a Mosquito plane crashing into Snowdon in 1948 and the following year having to be rescued in a strong tide by Mr Symonds! In subsequent years he was in the CCF run by Lt Col Simmons and then the Air Section under Mr Milward, attending annual camps at Cottesmore, Hullavington and Dyce with flights from Abingdon. He took up gliding at Weston on the Green in a Slingsby T21 and attained the rank of sergeant.

After a talking to by the housemaster, Mr Stoneham, Malcolm started to study harder and he excelled at Chemistry, winning the Daubeney prize. He studied Medicine at Hertford College, Oxford University and was taught by Miles Vaughan Williams. He continued to row, competing for the 1st VIII. In the holidays he would earn money delivering cars from the BMC factory in Cowley to garages across the UK and then hitch hike back home. He had wonderful memories of his travels across Europe with his contemporaries.

In 1958, Malcolm transferred to St Bart’s Hospital for his clinical studies, specialising in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. His post-graduate training was undertaken in a variety of hospitals including The Royal Berkshire, The Royal Liverpool and The John Radcliffe – where he trained under Professor John Stallworthy. He also worked in Oldham Royal Infirmary with Patrick Steptoe (who together with Robert Edwards, pioneered successful in vitro fertilisation).

Malcolm married Rita, a nurse from Oxford and they had a daughter, Julia, but sadly, the marriage dissolved. In Oldham, Malcom met Marlene, a midwife and health visitor who worked for Steptoe and the SSAFA, helping the British Army in Cyprus. They made their home in Derby, where Malcolm began his consultant post. They had three children, Rachel, Rebecca and Paul, but tragically Marlene died in 1990.

Malcolm developed a special interest in sub-fertility and helped many women to achieve successful pregnancies using ovulation drugs or microsurgery. He also had a successful private practice. He was a fine teacher, and mentored Dr Padmalatha who has since been able to use her skills when she returned to India.

Malcolm was the President of The Derby Obstetric Group and a member of various medical societies, sharing experience with specialists throughout the UK and Europe.

With his encyclopaedic knowledge, and wise outlook, he was the first source of advice in the family from DIY, car maintenance to any medical issue.

Retiring at 67 from a job he relished was a shock, but he loved travelling and was even driving a camper van around New Zealand in his 80s with his companion Ruth. Having an insatiable curiosity, he was an active member of various historical and art societies. He was passionate about our heritage and a keen supporter of the Landmark Trust. He enjoyed several investment, shooting, civic and drinking groups with friends.

As a sociable individual, Malcolm suffered in the Covid-19 pandemic and apparently found the lockdowns harder than living through WWII. However, he battled hard against heart and kidney failure and refused “to go gentle into that good night.” He died in December 2023 in the Royal Derby Hospital.

Malcolm was a good and generous neighbour, friend and colleague, an excellent host and a caring and trusted clinician with extraordinary surgical skills. He was a much-loved father, grandfather and great grandfather.