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David Sydney Halpin was born in Lyndhurst in the New Forest. He was educated at Shaftesbury Grammar School as a boarder from 1953-58.
A countryman at heart, but he chose medicine as his career and qualified MB BS in 1963 at St Mary’s Hospital, London, where his first house job was with Professor Peart. His second house job was at Paddington General under Mr Stephens.
He was married in 1961 to Susan, a nurse, with 4 more years of clinical training ahead, which included teaching anatomy at King’s College and a 2-year surgical rotation in Bristol.
Despite a busy surgical career he had a very full family life, he and Sue adopting two children as babies – Andrew and Fiona - and fostering 12 children between the ages of 6 days and 16 years.
Rowing was his main hobby, so living in a flat at Kew Bridge was convenient for the rowing club, with regular regattas, including Henley.
In 1969 he obtained the FRCS and moved to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital doing General Surgery but changed to Orthopaedics on a 4-year rotation at the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital.
There followed a 6 month appointment in 1974 with Professor Mankin at Massachussets General in the USA, doing research on cartilage and teaching Harvard students. And the following year he was appointed Consultant at Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital and Torbay Hospital.
A further trip abroad entailed a 6 month exchange with Don Jones in Christchurch, New Zealand, and other trips with the British Orthopaedic Association and British Orthopaedic Travel Association.
Later, he was on the editorial board of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and in 1992, on semi-retirement, he held clinics in 5 local GP surgeries whilst continuing his own private practice. He also continued doing THRs and TKRs on the waiting list initiative scheme in Exeter.
After settling in Devon he was able to enjoy more countryside activities, acquiring 35 acres of neglected land and planting 12,000 mixed woodland trees. He built a shepherd’s hut, reared 40 Polled Dorset ewes and raised 80 lambs yearly. Also a few South Devon cows and their offspring. He was a member of Devon Rural Skills Trust and demonstrated ash hay-rake and besom making, finally forming a Trust of his woodland which he registered with the Charity Commission.
On full retirement he and Sue moved to Dartmoor and he became passionate about the fate of Palestinians, some of whom David had worked with.
In 2003 he chartered a ship to take flour, cheese, oil, honey, bales of wool, donated clothing and bedding to Gaza. This was followed by ten more visits, including two with his wife, Sue. He was a great campaigner for the underdog and was frequently asked to support a cause.
That same year, he, and three other doctors, mounted a legal case to request a full inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly.
A staunch advocate for the NHS, including community hospitals, he stood as an Independent candidate for Newton Abbot in the 2019 General Election.
His future plans included using his woodland to instruct youngsters in countryside skills and offering peace and sanctuary to those suffering from the stresses of today’s busy world.
He hoped to do this for many more years to come, but sadly died from bladder carcinomatosis on 14thAugust 2026, just 2 weeks before his and Sue’s 65thwedding anniversary.
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Medical history of David S Halpin as of 12-11-2025 DOB 14-04-1940
in narrative style
Briefly - I qualified MB BS via St Mary's in 1964, spent 11 years in surgical training as was usual, FRCS 1969, and in 1975 was appointed as a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital Exeter where I mostly trained and eventually lead, and at Torbay Hospital.
I include some of the many adverse effects of Lithium started in me in 1992, continued for 27 years without any review, and concentrate on the renal tract. Lithium is useful in mania and possibly in the longer term for so called bipolar disease which I do not have. It is both neurotoxic and nephrotoxic. Its mechanism of action is unknown! I am sure that it binds securely to cell membranes. I learned recently that Susan my wife was instructed by Dr Galli my GP and Dr Gillespie psychiatrist that I should never stop taking this.
Most relevant history. Some note form for brevity
Fit young man - rugby, rowing in racing eights. Married Susan at age 21. No babies - azoospermia found sadly, after Sue first investigated! Probably did well in 'finals'. About 10 days after qualifying after three weeks of examination started as HP to the Medical Unit at St Mary's under the inspiring Prof W.S Peart - a 'plum job' as we would say which I had applied for. BUT - 'they' could not get locums and I was the only house doctor for 2 wards - with 50 patients, most of whom were very ill. + Emergencies coming by ambulance via GPs etc and via ‘Casualty’. The unit concentrated on renal disease and hypertension. I hardly slept for the ten days and did not go back to Sue and our flat in Kew in that time.
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Our dear Fiona underwent an emergency colostomy for obstruction due to a rectal cancer last July. Symptoms had first appeared about two months before. The advance of the cancer was rapid.
She underwent two courses of chemotherapy, and then palliative radiotherapy for a mass in her tummy on the right side. The cancer was not checked and in her final month of life the obstruction of her large bowel was total. Happily, and with the help of an anti-spasmodic, she was able to drink and eat sorbets etc
Throughout her illness she never complained. She continued to live her life as actively as possible, and with good humour.
She had wonderful support within our NHS, and especially the 'end of life' care provided by District and Weldmar Hospice nurses. The care given by her partner Andy Napper was exceptional, and added to by the close family. The family is stronger for this.
Sue and I have had many cards and messages in sympathy and love. We have realised how much this sustains people in their grief.
This post is - to thank the many, and in celebration of Fiona's life - with her caring at the centre.
PDF's:
The eulogy written by Sue and by Fiona's brother Andrew, and read at the service by the celebrant Antonia Burt.
The service order with an image of Fee. This includes a short piece by me the father, in thanks for all the care given.
