Ronald Linden

The Cardiovascular Unit within the Department of Physiology was the result. It combined responsibilities for clinical cardiac

investigations with fundamental "blue skies" research.

In 1966 Ron was appointed to a Personal Chair and in 1977 to the headship of a separate Department of Cardiovascular Studies, his chair being endowed by the British Heart Foundation, one of the first it thus supported.

Ron Linden, who died suddenly eight days after celebrating his 90th birthday, was the epitome of rugged individualism and Yorkshire bluntness. He supported Yorkshire cricket, Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos. He played cricket for Leeds University in his early years at Leeds and in his later years was a member of Alwoodley Golf Club.

He was born in Scriven, Knaresborough, the second son of Alfred Linden. He won a scholarship to Knaresborough Grammar School (of which he later became a governor) and left there to study Medicine in 1939. The following year, however, he joined the Royal Navy, becoming a submariner, promoted to first lieutenant and serving on T and U class submarines, most notably on HMS Unseen, patrolling the Mediterranean whilst based in Malta.

In 1944 he married Isobel Hendry, a WRN whom he had met just three weeks earlier when they were both stationed on the west coast of Scotland.

They had enjoyed 63 years together when Isobel died in 2007, most of their married life spent in and around Leeds where they brought up their three sons.

Returning to the Medical School at Leeds in 1946, Ron Linden graduated in 1951 with honours, being awarded a PhD in 1958 and the DSc in 1965.

When he joined the Leeds Medical School, it already had a reputation for cardiovascular work in physiology, medicine and surgery, and he was soon involved in this work.

His lifelong commitment to his speciality was seen from his first appointment, and as his career progressed from demonstrator to professor, he always sought to exploit the clinical applications and relevance of basic physiological sciences.

He founded a dynasty of Leeds-trained cardiovascular physiologists which has spread far and wide, many becoming professors and leaders in their fields in the UK and in their own and adopted countries.

He is survived by his three sons, Richard, Roger and Andrew, and by eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.