Hunter Gillies, as he was always known, died on 11 September 2002. He was born in Glasgow on 4 January 1911 and attended Allan Glen's School. He studied medicine at Glasgow University, graduating MB ChB with Commendation in 1934. He proceeded MD with High Commendation in 1938, having obtained the DPM in 1936. He became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1947 and was elected as a fellow of that College in 1953. He was a founder fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

He served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from 1941 to 1946 and he was a specialist in neuropsychiatry at the Naval Hospitals in Chatham and Sydney, Australia.

He was Deputy-Physician Superintendent at the Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries from 1946 until 1953. His colleagues at the Crichton included Professors Willi Mayer-Gross and Martin Roth.

In 1953, Hunter Gillies returned to Glasgow on his appointment as consultant-in-charge of the psychiatric unit at Stobhill General Hospital in Glasgow. The hospital was established by the city of Glasgow early in the 20th Century and had mental observation wards from which the large psychiatric unit developed. It became an active unit, dealing with patients with a wide range of psychiatric conditions under the leadership of Hunter Gillies. He was held in high regard by colleagues in other specialities in the hospital and this helped to make the psychiatric unit an accepted part of the general hospital.

He leaned to the apprentice model of psychiatric training and he was an exemplary trainer. Once a trainee had worked for him, he became the gold standard. His former trainees recall their experiences of him with pleasure and gratitude and remember him personally with affection. He was of distinguished appearance and had considerable energy. Those who worked with him knew that the dryness of manner which he sometimes displayed readily gave way to warmth. He had a sharp sense of humour, and generosity and concern for others underpinned his actions.

In addition to his responsibilities at Stobhill General Hospital, at the request of the procurator-fiscal, over many years he examined persons accused of serious offences. His published work in this area highlighted the importance of alcohol as a major factor in serious offences. His forensic reports, as well as his clinical notes and letters, contained vivid thumb-nail sketches, while at the same time being characterised by lucid and felicitous expression and astute judgment. He was one of the most respected Scottish psychiatrists of his generation. He retired in 1976.

He was a private man. In his younger days, he enjoyed sailing — especially off the west coast of Scotland. He maintained an interest in cooking into his later years.

In 1948, he married Mrs Isabelle Canay of Sydney, who died in 1983. In 1987, he married Mrs Margaret Richmond of Oxfordshire and relocated there. She survives him.