Malcolm Fletcher was born in Adelaide, his mother being a doctor and his father a banker. Educated at Scotch College Adelaide where he became dux of the school, he graduated MB BS at Adelaide University in 1933 where a contemporary remembers him as giving all he knew to the task of graduating in medicine, but just as much to sport. Following graduation he spent two years at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and was an RMO at the Adelaide Children's Hospital.

General practice followed until he went to London and gained membership of the Royal College of Physicians (1940). In 1939 in England he married Janet, who was shortly to be following him around England and Scotland at various naval depots, for by now the Second World War was raging, and he served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve with the rank of temporary acting surgeon lieutenant-commander from July 1940 to May 1946. Much of his service was on convoy duty in northern Europe and the North Atlantic.

On returning to Australia in 1947 he moved to Launceston as the first full-time physician assistant medical superintendent at the Launceston General Hospital. One of his colleagues at that time states that the little circle of full-time staff thus formed was one of the happiest it is possible to imagine, each taking the greatest pleasure in working with the other. In 1949 he moved into private practice in the city, continuing as a visiting honorary physician to inpatients at the General Hospital, where he contributed greatly. His houseman for a time, I was impressed by his tenacity in grappling with problems of diagnosis, and also by his human touch, his understanding and his kindness. The high regard and personal attachment of so many in all walks of life to this loved physician told what manner of man he was, and he was a source of inspiration to the next generation of doctors.

He devoted much energy to the British Medical Association, served on the branch council for several years and was chairman of the northern division in 1954 and president of the Tasmanian branch in 1957, when the Australasian Medical Congress was held in Hobart. He was a member of state committee of the RACP from 1952 until his death in 1960.

Malcolm did everything with every ounce of his energy. Where he sensed any injustice or any threat to reasonable individual freedom he was quick to champion the cause. At the last meeting of the BMA he attended, the compulsory wearing of crash helmets by motor cyclists was being advocated. Up jumped Malcolm with fiery enthusiasm – ‘I don't agree it should be made compulsory. I don't believe anybody should be made do anything’. This was typical of this man, an idealist, a man of highest integrity and a fighter for personal freedom. Though his convictions were ardently held, his opposition never produced anger or resentment, for his winsome smile guaranteed there was no personal animosity.

Janet's calmness and support meant much to him, and their relationship was based on a true partnership. They with their family of three daughters and one son formed the centre of Malcolm's life. His son Richard is now a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Malcolm's sudden death in 1960 cut off in mid-career, a well-loved physician of great talent.