Christopher Bagot Sangster

Born at Burra in 1908, Christopher Sangster was the son and grandson of doctors.

Dr Christopher Sangster held a life-long interest in medicine and sport. His sporting prowess, particularly in football and cricket, continued from his school days at St Peter's College through his years at University of Adelaide to State level where he represented South Australia in the Sheffield Shield. He also captained the South Australian amateur football team for four consecutive years, a feat which remains unequalled.

After completing his medical degree in 1931 at the University of Adelaide and winning the Everard Scholarship, also won by his father in 1896, Dr Sangster spent some years working in London before beginning his work as a consultant physician, which he would continue for 50 years.

In 1939 he married Helen Elizabeth Burston, daughter of Sir Samuel Burston [Munk’s Roll, Vol.V, p.63], and they had four children - Robin, John, Andrew and Helen. With the advent of war he enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corps and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel, seeing service in Alice Springs, New Guinea and Bougainville. He later served as commanding officer of 121 Australian General Hospital, Northfield, and of the Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park.

In 1941 he was awarded his doctorate from the University of Adelaide for his work on rheumatic fever. After the war he returned to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was a much respected teacher of generations of medical students and became honorary physician to the hospital in 1955, a post he retained until his retirement in 1968.

He was a foundation fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. In addition he served for 46 years as visiting physician to the Home for Incurables and as visiting physician to the Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park. For 17 years he served as chief medical officer to the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society and, for 35 years, as a councillor to the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia, including five years as senior vice-president.