Husband of ‘well-loved’ GP to cycle length of Britain for charity in her memory
The husband and a family friend of a GP who died last year in a paddleboarding accident will cycle the length of Britain to raise money in her memory.
Julia McLean – known professionally as Dr Julia Hamilton – died in May last year near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands. The ‘well-loved’ GP had been a partner at the Whitefriars Green Practice in Perth since 1994.
Her husband Stewart McLean and family friend Gavin Matthews will cycle from Land’s End on Thursday next week (21 August) and aim to reach John O’Groats on 3 September.
The money raised from the effort will be shared between the Vine Trust – an international development and healthcare charity – and the Julia McLean Memorial Grant Fund, which supports medical, dental, nursing, and midwifery students working with the Vine Trust on their electives. The pair have already raised over £7,500 for the two causes.
Dr Hamilton had been a Vine Trust trustee who visited Tanzania three times and was planning two further trips in 2025. The charity described her as a ‘much-loved and admired volunteer’.
It said: ‘Julia showed a real passion for everyone she served and profound appreciation for the dignity and value of others.
‘Julia often spoke of how much working with the Jubilee Hope team in Tanzania had made an impact on her both professionally and personally.’
In a statement supporting the fundraiser, NHS Tayside said: ‘[Dr Hamilton] was a well-loved GP in Perth, where she lived and practised for many years.
‘Shortly after her death, family friend Gavin Matthews suggested a fundraising adventure in Julia’s memory. The plan: cycle the length of Britain – from Land’s End to John O’Groats – to raise funds for causes close to her heart. After months of planning and training, Stewart and Gavin will set off on 21 August, aiming to reach John O’Groats on Wednesday 3 September. NHS Tayside wishes them the best of luck for their journey.’
Dr Hamilton was originally from Northern Ireland and studied medicine at Queen’s University, in Belfast. Before joining the Whitefriars Green Practice as a partner, she was a registrar there in 1993.
She was the clinical lead in the practice for hypertension, chronic kidney disease and prescribing, and her special interests were family planning (including coil and implanon insertions) and women’s health. She was also involved in supervising medical students.
The fundraiser is accessible via this link: https://vinetrust.org/fundraising/page/lands-end-to-john-ogroats-in-memory-of-julia-mclean
