ALAN Watson, who has died at age 72, was the eighth regius professor of forensic medicine to be appointed by Glasgow University.

He was born in 1929 and raised near Reading by his caring family. Their Baptist traditions left Alan with true Christian values that served to guide him throughout his life. From his early schooldays, he demonstrated an insatiable quest for knowledge that remained with him well into his retirement. During a school history lesson, when the term ''different cultures'' was used repetitively, young Alan floored the master by requesting: ''Sir, what is the meaning of the word culture?''

Although his education was primarily science-based, Alan found time to study Greek and Latin with little help and gained the entrance qualifications for medical school, which he entered following a

period of national service.

Alan completed his medical degree at St Mary's College, London, in June 1954. He moved to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading as a house surgeon, followed by an appointment as a house physician. He held a post of senior house officer in surgery at Newbury District Hospital before moving to Newton Abbot Hospital where he remained until June 1957. Between then and February 1958 he obtained a diploma in tropical medicine and hygiene at Antwerp in preparation for his appointment as medical officer and director of the Baptist Missionary Social Hospital, Ntando, in the then Republic of Congo. At this time of political unrest, Alan and his young wife, Jean, had to be

rescued by mercenary soldiers from the mission, which was behind the lines of the losing side.

After leaving Africa, he returned to the Royal Berkshire Hospital as senior house officer in pathology. His career led him from there to his subsequent appointment as a pathology demonstrator at King's College Hospital, where he remained until December 1963. At this point he moved to Glasgow's Western Infirmary as a lecturer in general gynaecology and later took up a post as a lecturer in pathology.

Following a brief appointment at Falkirk Royal Infirmary, Alan's work as a missionary doctor took him back to Africa, this time to Nigeria. Civil war curtailed his trip. Again his mission was located behind the lines of the losing side. He and his young family were protected from harm by one of the rebel soldiers until they were rescued. Their protector was one of Alan's former patients.

On his return to the United Kingdom, he pursued his career in pathology as a consultant at Addenbrook's and as a fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge. He moved back to Glasgow to become the first senior lecturer in the department of forensic medicine and science in July 1971. He instigated the investigative histology service to support the pathologists with their investigations. Following the untimely death of Professor Arthur Harland, Alan was appointed regius professor of forensic medicine and science in 1985, the first Englishman to be entrusted with the post. He found himself at the helm of a department in deep shock following his predecessor's death. His natural healing instincts both healed the wounds and moulded his ''family'' into a unit dedicated to the provision of a first-class service to the university and its students and to the requirements of the legal authorities in the west

of Scotland. He oversaw the implementation of the recommendations made in The McCluskey-Bowen report for forensic pathology services in Scotland as instigated by his predecessor. This led to the growth of the department to the largest unit of its kind in Scotland.

In late 1987 the department moved from the ''family house'' in University Gardens to the

specially designed complex within the Joseph Black building of the university. Under his guidance, the modern facility was established. Alan's love of history resulted in the procurement of copies of portraits of previous incumbents and a replica of the original charter establishing the regius chair, signed by the then young Queen Victoria. It was with great pride that, in 1989, he encouraged the holding of two conferences, one medical and the other scientific, to mark 150 years of forensic medicine at Glasgow University.

Alan was a natural teacher. He took genuine pleasure in his presentation of well-thought-out and clearly constructed lectures. His students admired and respected him. His popularity resulted in numerous invitations as a top-table guest at student club dinners: not bad for an honorary president of the Scottish branch of the Band of Hope.

He regularly contributed to the courses run by the Scottish Police Training College. For forensic practitioners, he established a training course in forensic medicine that is still well-attended today. As a professional forensic pathologist, he put many a grieving relative at ease while explaining the purpose or the findings of his post-mortem investigations. He carried his teaching abilities into the witness box where his testimony was given in a clear manner devoid of jargon. Alan's major interests lay in the investigation of cot deaths, the investigation of the role of alcohol and drugs in fire deaths, the diagnosis of drowning, the hide-and- die syndrome, and in the significance of subarachnoid haemorrhage.

For a number of years he was a council member of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. His becoming a justice of the peace extended his service to the community. His sharp, quick mind and strong sense of fair play served him well in the fulfilment of his role in the district court.

HE found time, as if his career were not demanding enough, to extend his knowledge of languages to become fluent in French, Flemish, Dutch, Gaelic, and the African languages with which he had contact. The appointment of a technician with a hearing impairment resulted in his learning sign language.

Whenappropriate, at scientific meetings, Alan would delight his audience by preparing and delivering his contribution in the appropriate language. As a young man in Reading, he had a keen interest in architecture, recording and photographing historic buildings. He continued his interest in Glasgow by extending his interest to castles and, indeed, retired to one. As an avid stamp collector, he would discuss his own stamps and refer to faults and flaws that had occurred in issues that should be sought after.

His Christian faith was unshakeable. He regularly attended the daily service in the university chapel. As a lay preacher, he was a staunch supporter of the Baptist churches in Mosspark, Bearsden, and Kilmarnock. He graduated with a bachelor of divinity degree in 1992. In retirement, he regularly made pastoral visits to patients in the Ayr and Crosshouse hospitals. His deteriorating health led him from Galston to Ayr where he joined St Columba's Parish Church. He was readily accepted, fully participating in the life of the church. It was obvious from the high turnout at his memorial service that he was well liked and respected. Earlier in his career he made a number of guest appearances on Late Call. He ended his career by working as a religious consultant and broadcaster with West Sound, the west of Scotland radio station.

In passing, Alan has left a family to whom he has been a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing him have lost a true, unselfish friend, a man who was always interested and was himself of great interest. Alan, ''old boy'', we hope your latest journey has all of the interest and stimulation that your faith has led you to expect.

John Oliver

Professor Alan Albert Watson JP, MA, BD, MB,BS, FRCP, FRC Path, D MJ , DTM & H, emeritus regius professor of forensic medicine and science, Glasgow University; born February 20, 1929, died November 17, 2001