Adrian Webb was born in Wellington. His father Reginald Herbert Webb was a barrister and solicitor and his mother was Frances Annie Holmden before her marriage. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and Otago University. Sir Frederick Bowerbank, a foundation Fellow (qv1), was his godfather.

Adrian’s death occurred in Taupo, New Zealand, on 6 March 1999. He was a popular respected physician colleague whose professional career was devoted in the main to the care of those with pulmonary tuberculosis. His warm cheerful, courteous personality and his broad clinical interests ensured that he had a wide circle of friends, both within New Zealand, and worldwide.

Adrian was a founding member of the New Zealand Thoracic Society in 1968 and its President from 1974-77. In retirement he remained an enthusiastic supporter of the Society. It was a tribute to his contribution to respiratory medicine that he was, in 1978, awarded his FRACP.

Adrian was active in the New Zealand Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Association and the International Union against Tuberculosis as well as in the New Zealand Asthma Society (now the New Zealand Asthma & Respiratory Diseases Foundation). He served also as Honorary General Secretary to the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association from 1962-1968. He was also active in Rotary for many years

It was soon after his graduating MBChB from Otago in 1939, that he developed tuberculous pleural effusion, the first manifestation of his disease, which led to his spending 402 days at Pukeora Sanatorium, Hawkes Bay. During that time he was required to undergo regular chest aspirations and was troubled by severe coughing, which was relieved in the main by heroin linctus.

During his subsequent career the memories of his experiences in the sanatorium deepened his compassion for his patients. He resumed professional work at Waipiata Sanitorium, Central Otago, in 1941 and then worked at Cashmere Sanitorium, Christchurch, 1945-47 before moving to be the first specialist tuberculosis officer in Northland. In that region there was a high incidence and mortality from tuberculosis especially among Maori. He instituted there a major public health program which eventually included mass chest radiography, tuberculin skin testing and BCG inoculation. He moved south to Wellington in 1960 and until 1978 was senior chest physician at Hutt Hospital. During the period 1968-71 he was seconded through WHO to be Tuberculosis Advisor to the Sarawak Govemment, East Malaysia,

As the incidence of tuberculosis decreased he became more involved in other aspects of respiratory medicine. He wrote several clinical papers, including his experience in Sarawak.

After “retirement” to Taupo, he was appointed consulting physician to the Taupo
General Hospital where he was engaged until his full retirement in 1985.He listed his hobbies as golf, fishing, music, gardening and music.

Adrian was predeceased by his wife, Betty, and was survived by his son Terry, his daughter Linda and five grandchildren.