William Stuart Palm was born in 1857 in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). After qualifying in Medicine, Dr Palm came to Largo to become assistant to long-time local medical practitioner Dr George Lumgair. On 23 March 1880 Dr Palm married the younger daughter of his mentor, Agnes Crawford Lumgair, in Largo. Dr Palm's father Rev John David Palm, assisted at the wedding ceremony. The couple lived at St Leonards, South Feus, Upper Largo. Upon the death of his father-in-law, Dr Palm succeeded to his practice.
In addition to his medical duties, Dr Palm was actively involved in curling and golf. He was part of the Committee which revived Lundin Golf Club in 1889 and was Captain of the Club in 1892. In 1903 he was elected Captain of the Lundin Ladies' Golf Club. Both clubs had trophies given by Dr Palm - the Palm Jug at the Lundin Golf Club and the Palm Medal at the Ladies - both of which continued to be competed for annually for decades after his death.
The 'Largo Village Book' published in 1932 names both Dr Lumgair and Dr Palm in the section headed 'Distinguished Men of Largo', saying of the latter:
"Dr Palm was a very brilliant student and a wonderfully clever doctor, perfectly unsparing of himself, he rode in all weathers and any distance all over the country. Summer and winter, day and night, it was the same. I was told, a few days ago, by one of his patients, who lived in Elie, that once, when her mother was ill, he apologised for being late as he had just come from Kingkettle where he had been called for consultation in a serious case."
Dr Palm died of pneumonia on 29 March 1908 at the age of 51 and was survived by his wife and daughter, Frances. He was missed and mourned by many for a long time after his death.
In addition to his medical duties, Dr Palm was actively involved in curling and golf. He was part of the Committee which revived Lundin Golf Club in 1889 and was Captain of the Club in 1892. In 1903 he was elected Captain of the Lundin Ladies' Golf Club. Both clubs had trophies given by Dr Palm - the Palm Jug at the Lundin Golf Club and the Palm Medal at the Ladies - both of which continued to be competed for annually for decades after his death.
The 'Largo Village Book' published in 1932 names both Dr Lumgair and Dr Palm in the section headed 'Distinguished Men of Largo', saying of the latter:
"Dr Palm was a very brilliant student and a wonderfully clever doctor, perfectly unsparing of himself, he rode in all weathers and any distance all over the country. Summer and winter, day and night, it was the same. I was told, a few days ago, by one of his patients, who lived in Elie, that once, when her mother was ill, he apologised for being late as he had just come from Kingkettle where he had been called for consultation in a serious case."
Dr Palm died of pneumonia on 29 March 1908 at the age of 51 and was survived by his wife and daughter, Frances. He was missed and mourned by many for a long time after his death.
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