Herbert Gilles

Herbert Michael Gilles (10 September 1921 – 20 October 2015) was a Maltese-British physician and professor of tropical medicine, recognized as a leading expert in his field.

Early life, education and military service Gilles was born to Maltese parents (the family name was originally Galea) living in Port Said, Egypt, and went to a French school there until the age of 11. He then became a boarding school student for his secondary education at St. Edward's College, Malta. In 1965 Gilles returned to Liverpool as a senior lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and was appointed there in 1970 a professor of tropical medicine, retiring as professor emeritus in 1986. In addition to his professorship, he was also dean to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine from 1978 to 1983. He was for a number of years a visiting professor at the University of Malta, travelling to Malta three times a year.

Gilles was the author or coauthor of several books and over 150 papers in scientific journals.

Personal life He married Wilhelmina (Mina) Caruana on 2 February 1955. They had three sons and a daughter before Mina's death in 1972, in a car accident. He subsequently married Dr Mejra Kacic Dimitri, who died in 2009. He died in Totnes in 2015 and was survived by his four children and six grandchildren.

Awards and honours 1969 — Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians 1979 — honorary MD, Karolinska Institute 1990 — World Health Organization Darling Foundation Medal and Prize 1994 — Mary Kingsley Medal, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 1997 — honorary fellow, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1998 — honorary member, Swedish Society of Tropical Medicine 1999 — honorary member, Italian Society of Tropical Medicine 2003 — Malta’s National Order of Merit 2005 — Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George 2006 — Knight of Malta (KSJ) 2007 — Manson Medal, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2008 — Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant bestowed by the King of Thailand