David Alastair Pearson Anderson, 2nd Viscount Waverley (18 February 1911 – 21 February 1990), was a British

hereditary peer The hereditary peers form part of the peerage in the United Kingdom. As of April 2025, there are 800 hereditary peers: 30 dukes (including six royal dukes), 34 marquesses, 189 earls, 108 viscounts, and 439 barons (not counting subsidiary ...

and physician. He trained as a physician in Germany and England, served in the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and then specialised as a

cardiologist Cardiology () is the study of the heart. Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the heart and the cardiovascular system. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery di ...

. Having succeeded his father as

Viscount Waverley Viscount Waverley, of Westdean in the County of Sussex, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 28 January 1952 for the civil servant and politician Sir John Anderson, who served variously as Governor of Bengal, Member ...

in 1958, he also sat in the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

where he regularly spoke on health matters and other interests of his.

Early life and education

The son of

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * John Anderson (jazz trumpeter) (1921–1974), American musician * Jon Anderson (John Roy Anderson, born 1944), lead singer of the British band Yes * John Anderson (producer) (1948–2024 ...

, later 1st Viscount Waverley, he was educated at

Malvern College Malvern College is a Private schools in the United Kingdom, fee-charging coeducational boarding school, boarding and day school in Malvern, Worcestershire, Malvern, Worcestershire, England. It is a public school (United Kingdom), public school ...

. He studied medicine at

Goethe University Frankfurt Goethe University Frankfurt () is a public research university located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was founded in 1914 as a citizens' university, which means it was founded and funded by the wealthy and active liberal citizenry of Frankfurt ...

and

Pembroke College, Cambridge Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college is the third-oldest college of the university and has over 700 students and fellows. It is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from ...

, graduating with

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery A Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (; MBBS, also abbreviated as BM BS, MB ChB, MB BCh, or MB BChir) is a medical degree granted by medical schools or universities in countries that adhere to the United Kingdom's higher education trad ...

(MB, BChir) degrees in 1937. He completed his clinical training at

St Thomas's Hospital Medical School St Thomas's Hospital Medical School in London was one of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the UK. The school was absorbed to form part of GKT School of Medical Education. History It was part of one of the oldest hospitals in ...

in London.

Career

From 1938 to 1939, Anderson was a

junior doctor In the United Kingdom, a resident doctor, previously (until 2024) known as a junior doctor, is a qualified medical practitioner who is either engaged in postgraduate training or employed in a non-training post. The period of being a resident docto ...

St Thomas' Hospital St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS teaching hospital in Central London, England. Administratively part of the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, together with Guy's Hospital, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospita ...

, London. With the outbreak of the

, he volunteered and joined the medical branch of the

. He was commissioned on 25 September 1939 in the rank of

flying officer Flying officer (Fg Offr or F/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Flying officer is immediately ...

. He was one of the few doctors in the RAF that were also trained as pilots. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 25 September 1940, and to

squadron leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr or S/L) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Squadron leader is immediatel ...

( temporary) on 1 July 1943. He was demobilized after the end of the War in 1945, and he relinquished his commission in 1956 having reached the age of 45 (at which point he was no longer obliged to remain in the reserves). After the war, he returned to St Thomas' Hospital and developed an interest in

cardiology Cardiology () is the study of the heart. Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the heart and the cardiovascular system. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery di ...

. In 1951, he moved to the Reading Group of Hospitals where he worked as a

consultant A consultant (from "to deliberate") is a professional (also known as ''expert'', ''specialist'', see variations of meaning below) who provides advice or services in an area of specialization (generally to medium or large-size corporations). Cons ...

at the

Royal Berkshire Hospital The Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) is an NHS hospital in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It provides acute hospital services to the residents of the western and central portions of Berkshire, and is managed by the Royal ...

Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of symbols, often specifically those of a written language, by means of Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifacete ...

. He developed his own teaching unit at the hospital, and also published a number of papers on cardiac and vascular disorders. He retired in 1976. Anderson succeeded his father as

upon the latter's death on 4 January 1958. He first sat in the

on 20 May 1958, and made his

maiden speech A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament. Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country. In many Westminster system governments, there is a convention th ...

on 19 November 1959 during a debate about the hospital service.

Personal life

On 13 November 1948, Anderson married Lorna Myrtle Ann Ledgerwood (1925–2013). Together they had three children: one son and two daughters. Their son,

, succeeded to his father's title as the 3rd Viscount Waverley.

Arms

References

External links

''Hansard'' records of speeches in the House of Lords
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waverley, David Anderson, 2nd Viscount 1911 births 1990 deaths British cardiologists Royal Air Force Medical Service officers Royal Air Force personnel of World War II People educated at Malvern College Goethe University Frankfurt alumni Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge Viscounts Waverley