On February 11, 1996, the mortal remains of Angus Lee were carried through the main entrance of Wexford General Hospital on the shoulders of his colleagues. This was a fitting tribute to the man who had done so much to bring about the development of the surgical services in Co Wexford.
Angus Lee was born on December 23rd, 1918, was educated at St Andrews College in Dublin. He then trained in the Medical School of Trinity College, Dublin and qualified MB, BCh, BAO in 1942. Having gained experience as a house surgeon in several different hospitals he volunteered to serve in the Royal Navy and was commissioned a surgeon lieutenant. He was subsequently involved in the evacuation of the wounded from the Normandy beaches shortly after D Day. Following demobilisation after the war Angus continued his surgical training at the Hammersmith Post Graduate Medical School in London. He was successful in obtaining the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons both in Ireland and in England.
May 1st, 1957 was a great day for Wexford, because on that day Angus took up his appointment as county surgeon to the then Wexford County Hospital. With characteristic generosity he gave his all to the care of his patients and the further development of the surgical services in Co Wexford. He was a man of great principle, being generous a fault, full of integrity and a pillar of wisdom. The many people who benefitted from his surgical skills are a witness to the excellence and the high standards which he brought to his surgical practice. He was a very human person with many endearing qualities, not least of which was a marvellous sense of humour. He had a great zest for life and when time permitted he indulged in his great loves of fishing, sailing and gardening.
During his active surgical life, besides the exemplary way in which he carried out his duties for his patients in Wexford General Hospital, for several years he also served on the South Eastern Health Board and also Comhairle na nOspideal, both of which made considerable demands on his time.
During the last few months of his life he suffered from increasing ill health which he bore with great dignity. A common saying of Angus's, which he often made at the end of a long day's work was "Is abhaile a taim ag dul anois, an dtuigeann tu e sinn?".
He left us quietly in the late afternoon of Saturday, February 10th, 1996 and went "abhaile" to his true home. We offer our deepest sympathy to his wife Ishbel and his sons Angus and Ross and his daughter in law Eilish. He will be greatly missed.
May he rest in peace.