Published: Thursday, 14th August, 2008 8:30am

Transplant woman loses husband to brain tumour

by Dolores Aughy

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A DUNFERMLINE woman who underwent a vital bone marrow transplant has lost her husband to a brain tumour.

John Mill, husband of former Inverkeithing High School teacher Elizabeth Mill, died in the Queen Margaret Hospital last week aged 57.

The father-of-three, of Kingseat Road, was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of the tumour on 3rd January.

His wife, Liz (58), was told in December 2005 that she had secondary acute myeloid leukaemia, which had developed from a blood disorder called thrombocythaemia.

But two months later the Anthony Nolan Trust saved her life by finding a suitable bone marrow donor and, after a successful transplant, Liz has recovered well.

She said, 'John was a rock for me so the minimum I could be was strong for him. Not once did he ask "Why me?"'

John had part of the tumour removed at the Western General in Edinburgh before undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the hospital.

Liz added, 'They (doctors) had no idea how long he had because everybody is very different.'

John is survived by Liz and their children Iain (29), Aileen (27) and Douglas (22).

After leaving Dunfermline High School, he worked as an apprentice electrician at Rosyth Dockyard and in 1974 spent a year in the Merchant Navy.

John spent the last 22 years working as a senior hardware engineer with BAE Systems in Hillend.

His real loves were rugby and fishing – particularly for wild brown trout – and the family said he was at his happiest when he was in north-west Sutherland.

He previously played rugby for Rosyth Civil Service Club and Dunfermline Rugby Club and was still refereeing the sport in the Edinburgh District National League up to December last year.

The highlight of his refereeing career came in 1998 when he refereed at the Hong Kong Sevens.

Daughter Aileen said, 'Sitting down to watch a recorded rugby international with dad was often frustrating as he replayed many tackles, scrums and tries in slow motion – often pointing out the inaccuracies in the referee"s decisions!'

Born in St Germans, Cornwall, John met Liz at a party in Dunfermline after moving to Fife at the age of 10. The couple had been married for 33 years.

Liz said, 'He was an industrious kind of person. He was a family man but he also had quite a sense of humour.

'He"s one of eight brothers and sisters – there was quite a clan! Family was important to him having been part of a large family and then having his own children.'

Iain added, 'He was very practical and very caring and giving.'

John"s funeral took place at Dunfermline Crematorium on Monday, with more than 350 people attending.

Around £1500 was collected at the funeral in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Action.

Aileen added, 'Dad will be missed both here and up north as a handyman, team-mate, fishing companion, work colleague, neighbour and most of all a great friend.'