John Donald Carr MD

John D Carr MB BS FRCS DMRD MD (USA) Born 14th August 1930 - Died 27th July 2022 in Williamsburg Virginia USA Born in Hornchurch in Essex, John left school at sixteen with a single O level and joined the Civil Service as a Junior Clark. Two years later he was conscripted into the British Army for National Service where he volunteered for officer training and on passing out, requested a posting with the Black Watch, a prestigious regiment in Scotland. He was told not to be silly and instead was posted to the Royal Auxiliary Service Core. However, within a few weeks following an interview with the Black Watch, he accepted a temporary secondment as an officer and moved to Scotland. Three years later, having completed his two years of National Service and his secondment at an end, he was offered and rejected a posting to any regiment in the British Army, stating that if he wasn’t good enough for the Black Watch, he wasn’t good enough for the British Army. He worked in a market garden and briefly in an aircraft factory before deciding that he wanted to be a doctor and applying to every medical school in the UK. He was rejected by all but fortuitously secured an interview with Sir Arthur Porritt, the King’s Surgeon and later president of the British Medical Association and was offered a place to study medicine at St Mary’s Hospital, London. He was four or five years older than his fellow students and after discovering the hospital had a rowing boat, he organised, trained, and led a St Mary’s crew in various regattas on the Thames, ultimately winning the Thames Cup at the Henley Regatta. He was a finalist at the British Olympic Rowing Trials for the competition in Rome in 1960 and retained an interest in rowing for the rest of his life. Completing his Medical studies at St Mary’s Hospital, the Royal College of Surgeons, and King Edward VII Hospital, he moved to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where he secured Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons before returning to London and University College Hospital to study radiography. After completing his radiological qualifications, he accepted an exchange posting to Danville, Illinois USA followed by time working at Wayne County General Hospital, University of Michigan where he secured certification by the American Board of Radiology and specialised in arteriography, as well as many other awards and designations. John moved to Williamsburg where he ran his own practice for over thirty years and was a renowned expert in the use of dyes and x-ray equipment for the rapid-sequence study of blood vessels. John retained his interest in sport throughout his life and was a keen golfer, playing regularly until a few months before his passing. He had a mischievous sense of humour and was loved by patients, friends, and family in equal measure. John married widower Shirley in 1977. They moved to Williamsburg, Virginia and were a devoted couple and active in their church and faithful to their saviour for many years. Shirley passed in 2010 and John continued to be a bright and sure witness for the Lord until his passing in July. He was a gifted Bible teacher and Church leader. John was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by Kathy, his partner for the last decade as well as his many friends and family.