Worthing Gazette 23rd June 1926
Death of Dr A G R Cameron
“A Distinguished Professional Career”
It is with great regret that the “Gazette” announces the death of Dr Allan Gordon Russell Cameron a former Medical Officer of Health for West Sussex, which occurred somewhat suddenly from heart failure, at his residence “Dawnie” in Ariadne Road, at midnight on Saturday. For some years Dr Cameron had been in somewhat indifferent health, and it was that which caused him three years ago, to resign the position of Deputy County Officer of Health for Durham, whither he went on leaving West Sussex.
The son of Mr Donald Charles Cameron of Wakenaam, British Guiana, Dr Cameron came of an old and distinguished Scottish family and had had a particularly distinguished professional career. Educated in Scotland and at University College London, he afterwards went to St Mary’s Hospital, London and from there to the University of Durham, where he qualified in medicine and surgery, taking the Diploma of Public health at Cambridge.
His first public appointment was as Assistant and Deputy Medical Officer of Health to the Llanelly and Bury Port (South Wales) Sanitary Authority, a post which he held from 1882 to 1894. He next studied bacteriology under Sir Victor Horsley and sanitary science under the late Professor Corfield and Professor Kenwood; and in February 1886, started upon another important stage of his professional career by joining the service of the Metropolitan Asylum Board. Subsequently he held a number of competitive appointments under that Authority.
In the Autumn of 1897, the Board granted him six months leave of absence in order that he might go out to India at the invitation of the Government to carry out important duties connected with the Plague Administration, and on leaving India, the Government presented him with a resolution expressing appreciation of his services. In February 1901, Dr Cameron was selected from among a number of candidates for the appointment of Medical Investigator to the Metropolitan Asylums Board. This was the post he relinquished, when in January 1905 he came to Worthing to take up the duties of Medical Officer of Health for the Combined Sanitary District of West Sussex in succession to the late Dr Charles Kelly.
In the Summer of 1907, Worthing withdrew from the Combined District and Dr R Heywood Wilshaw was appointed to the position of Medical Officer of the Borough; but Dr Cameron continued his services in the modified Sanitary District until February 1911, when he was appointed from among 79 applicants to the newly created post of County Medical Officer for the whole of West Sussex. The high esteem in which was held by fellow members of his profession in Sussex found expression a few months later at a complimentary dinner to which they entertained him at Warne’s Hotel in May of that year, with the late Mr W S Simpson as Chairman. In 1913, Dr Cameron left West Sussex to take over the position of Deputy County Medical Officer for Durham which he continued to hold until his retirement in 1923. He published several very valuable public health reports and in recognition of his zeal for the public health service, he was elected President of both the Northern and Southern branches of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. He was 58 years of age.