A bronze statue to commemorate the Scottish physiologist who co-discovered insulin has been unveiled this week in Aberdeen’s Duthie Park.

Two years after the formal centenary of the ground-breaking discovery that revolutionised diabetes care, over 300 guests came together to celebrate cementing the place of Professor John J. R. Macleod in Aberdeen's history.

Ayrshire sculptor John McKenna, who spent over a year working on the memorial, used formal photographs as well as images from family photo albums to achieve the structure’s resemblance to “Jack” Macleod.

Despite Professor Macleod and his colleague Frederick Banting being awarded the Nobel Prize in 1923 for their work, the years that followed saw his role questioned, and his recognition diminished.

However, a Canadian historian has since revealed that the discovery was in fact a team effort led by the Aberdeen physiologist and chemist.

Efforts to immortalise the professor in Aberdeen’s history have been led by John Otto, Founder & Chairman of the JJR Macleod Memorial Statue Society, who shared the journey towards getting Macleod the recognition he deserves.

Along with co-founder Kimberlie Hamilton, Mr Otto raised funds to steer this project.

Now, with the statue to mark the insulin pioneer’s work unveiled earlier this week, he says:

“As someone who has been dependent on daily injections of insulin for the past 50 years, it has been a surreal but gratifying experience to watch this long-held dream become a reality.

“I feel a deep sense of gratitude to JJR Macleod for giving me life, along with millions of others with type 1 diabetes around the world.”

Macleod’s Corner

100 years after the Nobel Prize win, the world’s first monument honouring Macleod’s legacy takes its place in a specially expanded area of Duthie Park now known as ‘Macleod’s Corner’.

The memorial is also Scotland’s first ‘Storytelling Statue’.

Visitors can scan a QR code, triggering an app that simulates a call to their mobile and plays a brief recording voiced by local actor, David Rintoul.

The app features a 3.5-minute mini-documentary, written by Kimberlie Hamilton, with an original score composed by John Logan of the Royal Conservatoire.

Among the event’s guests were JJR Macleod’s family members, Aberdeen council representatives, academics, and school pupils, as well as those involved the memorial’s creation.

Aberdeen native and former Airforce pilot 103-year-old John Cruickshank was the only person present who was born before the discovery of insulin.

Representatives from Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes diabetes drugs today, and diabetes charities Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation UK and Diabetes UK were also in attendance.

The unveiling was followed by a marquee reception, with Mr Otto rounding off the event, saying that the team were “very proud” to be part of a wider movement to bring Macleod wider recognition:

“As the unsung medical hero that history and the world forgot, JJR Macleod is truly a man who deserves a statue.”

Read more: Campaign to recognise Aberdeen insulin pioneer; Four centuries of bringing life to Aberdeen; Can Scotland make health fairer?; Scots honoured in health, care and sciences

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