Fitting tribute to local resident

More and more residents are moving into Newtonhill’s newest street which has been named after a local resident who died last year. 

The first residents moved into Michael Tunstall Place, in the development at Cairnhill, earlier this year after Aberdeenshire Council agreed to name the street in memory of local resident Dr Michael Tunstall.

Dr Tunstall, a former consultant anaesthetist, revolutionised the world of anaesthetics and widely recognised as his biggest achievement was the 1961 invention of Entonox which is now given to women in childbirth all around the world.

Dr Tunstall’s career spanned decades and many of these years were spent as a consultant at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. His main motivation was pain relief and his family said he was more interested in helping people rather than the commercial values.

After contracting leukaemia 20 years ago, Dr Tunstall suffered ongoing problems with cancer, but he did not let the illness hold him back.

The Newtonhill man had a great love for the outdoors and despite working long hours and putting a lot of dedication into his work, he also put the same effort into his family life and adventurous side. The family shared a passion for sailing and he also enjoyed windsurfing, even when in his seventies.

The family man felt he was never too old and took up skiing at the age of 55 so he could help his daughter learn the sport.

Dr Tunstall devoted his life to help mothers and children and he first arrived in Aberdeen to help in the treatment of a woman expecting quads, at the request of Sir Dugald Baird.

The 82-year-old died of cancer on 21 April in 2011 at his Newtonhill home. He is survived by his wife Anne, his children Chris, Gareth, and Amanda and six grandchildren. Anne is a former Liberal Democrat councillor for the area.

Councillor Ian Mollison said: “When the opportunity came up to name the new street I thought it would be a fitting tribute. Thankfully the community council and two other ward councillors agreed.”

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