Taming the Beast

When he was appointed Edinburgh University’s first professor of medical oncology at the age of 33, John Smyth was already making a name for himself in the world of cancer research. Over the next three decades, he led the development of cancer medicine in Scotland, pushing ahead both research and education in the subject. In that time, he supervised the care of some 6,000 cancer patients, published more than 330 scientific papers and contributed to more than 40 books.

Along with medicine, he has had a lifelong passion for both singing and flying light aircraft. While at Cambridge University, he was a founder-member of the Monteverdi Choir – widely held to be one of the finest chamber choirs in the world – and sang in it for 50 years.

He lives in Edinburgh with his wife Ann, a professor of clinical psychology. Between them, they have four daughters and ten grandchildren.