‘Compassionate’ Worthing chiropodist dies aged 74

Alan Johnstone, of Watersfield Road, Worthing, practised as a chiropodist for 32 years, having retrained after a career in the Medical Corps in the Army and as a microbiologist for GlaxoSmithKline.

He died on Thursday in his home after a battle with lung cancer.

Despite being terminally ill, Alan had continued to see patients a week before he died.

His wife, Gabrielle, said: “He was determined to fight on and he didn’t want to let his patients down. “He used to say he loved it when someone hobbled in and floated out.”

Mrs Johnstone said Alan would often work all days and hours of the week, regardless of the time or occasion.

She said: “Sometimes he would get a call at 3am from an elderly patient who was confused and thought it was 3pm. He would usually gently persuade them it was the morning and tell them he would see them later.

“But sometimes he would get out of bed and visit them then. He would never get annoyed at them. “He was very kind.”

An inquistive mind with a desire to learn, Alan’s interests included classical music and the arts, railway history and architecture, photography and horses, and even snakes.

Whilst training to become a chiropodist, Alan also studied for a history degree with the Open University during his train journey commute from Worthing to London.

Mrs Johnstone added: “That was Alan.

“He always enjoyed learning.”