THE founder of a medical practice and life-long supporter of the RNLI, Dr Robert Wilson Adam, has died at the age of 98.

Born in Uddington, Scotland, he trained at the Glasgow Infirmary in the late 1930s, first as a dentist and then as a doctor.

He came to Christchurch in 1941 and brought his wife, Margaret, to the area in 1942, which is also the same year that he joined the army as a medical officer, serving in Egypt and Italy.

Once the war was over, he moved to Poole and in 1946 he joined the small practice of Dr McQueen based in Poole's high street.

With the introduction of the NHS and after Dr McQueen’s retirement, the practice grew rapidly, first merging with Dr Peter Chown’s practice in Upton and then went into partnership with Michael Johnson and Chris Upton. Later Ernie Murray and John Gibson joined, followed by Sinclair Williamson then John Miller and then David Morgan. While managing the expansion of his practice, he was also active in the NHS. He was the G.P. representative on the Dorset Local Medical Committee from 1967 to 1979 and on the District Management Team at Poole Hospital in the 1970s.

By the time of his formal retirement in 1984, the eleven-doctor Adam Practice was one of the largest in the south and had surgeries in Poole, Hamworthy, Upton and Turlin Moor. He continued to work as a locum for another 10 years.

Outside of his working life he was a keen sailor and a member of Poole Yacht Club for 66 years. He built his own boat in the 1960s and sailed regularly across the channel and along the south coast. Through his love of sailing, he became a loyal supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, starting as Poole Lifeboat Station's honorary medical advisor in 1950 and went on to be chairman of the branch from 1969 to 1987.

Through his ongoing support to the RNLI, he was co-opted onto the Committee of Management (now Council) in 1985 and appointed as Vice-President in 1990 and Life Vice-President in 1992.

Robert's wife, Margaret, worked with her husband as founder and chair of the Poole Lifeboat Guild from 1969 until her death in 2000.

The couple are survived by two children, Carol and Bob, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His funeral took place on January 29 with donations going to the RNLI.