Richard Charles Nairn was born in Liverpool, UK to parents of Scottish descent, Richard James and Ann Nairn (nee Sowdon). His father was a builder. He had two brothers, John, who became a journalist and moved to Perth, Western Australia and a younger brother, a telecommunications expert. Richy, as he was known, had his schooling at Liverpool Institute and his medical education at the University of Liverpool, where he graduated with honours in 1942. After a residency at Walton Hospital, Liverpool, he was a surgeon lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). He served mainly as a medical officer to a flotilla of fleet minesweepers (1943-46). After the war, Richy became a Lecturer in Pathology at the University of Liverpool (1948-51) in the department headed by Professor H.L. Sheehan. He obtained his MD by examination and a PhD for experimental studies on the pathogenesis of oedema.

In 1952 Nairn moved to the University of Aberdeen as senior lecturer in pathology and honorary consultant pathologist. Here he developed his central interest in immunofluorescence and its application to disease processes, particularly autoimmunity and neoplasia. In 1963 he took the foundation chair of pathology at Monash University. The department based at the Alfred Hospital remained separate from the diagnostic service. This allowed Nairn to build a fine research department in addition to establishing diagnostic services in immunology for the Alfred and other associated hospitals.

He had an ability to attract bright, young staff and encourage them to pursue active research careers. Five became professors of pathology. As the department’s research reputation in immunology grew, Nairn’s Chair was renamed the Professorship of Pathology and Immunology in 1975.

Nairn’s publications include some 176 items – articles, books and chapters. Two themes largely reflect Nairn’s research – fluorescent protein tracing and immunological aspects of neoplasia. For twenty years his book Fluorescent Protein Tracing, first published in 1962, was the standard reference; the fourth and last edition appeared in 1976. Nairn was fascinated by the technology of immunofluorescence and concerned with standardisation, filters and rigorous controls. Meticulous investigations on the immunology of bowel cancer provided the basis on which current investigations are undertaken, a good example of modern investigations building on past rigorous studies.

An excellent editor, Nairn’s mastery of the English language was evident in his research papers and the series Practical Methods in Clinical Immunology, which he edited. A fine PhD supervisor, his weekly meetings critically discussed ongoing research and student progress; great care was taken over theses and research publications.

An important legacy of Richy Nairn is the vibrant specialty of clinical immunology. In 1964 he inaugurated the first Australian diagnostic laboratory in clinical immunology at Monash Medical School, Alfred Hospital. He saw the need for immunology to be recognised as a specialist medical area with appropriate training and examinations. In 1973 a joint working committee on clinical immunology was established between the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Australian (later Australasian) Society for Immunology under Nairn’s chairmanship. As a consequence, immunology was declared the fifth branch of laboratory medicine. In 1974 the Royal Australasian College of Physicians established a joint Specialist Advisory Committee in Immunology with the RCPA; Nairn was the initial chair until 1980. The outcome was the award of Fellowships of both Colleges after a six year training period. In these endeavours Richy was supported by Ian Mackay and Senga Whittingham of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.

Nairn held many qualifications, awards and visiting professorships; he was proud of his election as Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1965.

After retirement in 1989 Richy and his second wife, June, settled in Colwall in the Malvern Hills. Their home backed onto a beautiful village cricket oval, a game Richy greatly appreciated. In his retirement he read widely and continued to play chess. An outstanding chess player he had won the only chess championship organised by the British Medical Association.

Richy was a great fighter for issues that concerned him. In the Chamberlain case, where Lindy Chamberlain was accused of murdering her baby, Nairn’s testimony, amongst others, on the immunological investigations had a major role in reversing a miscarriage of justice. John Nairn, Richy’s brother wrote in his book Come in Billy Nairn, “the Nairns refused to quit because they were tenacious people … unyielding and obstinate”. Richy had some of these characteristics – but he was fair and rarely bore a grudge after a fight. With his first wife Barbara he had two daughters, Jenny, a veterinary surgeon and Barbara, a musician and lecturer in mathematics. He died from a stroke.

Clinical Immunology is Nairn’s legacy to Australia and the College of Physicians.