A Bell in Bellapais - Echoes from a Cyprus Village

Author and composer Dr John Guthrie (1912-1986), was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. After studying medicine in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh, he moved to Kuwait and was appointed Chief Medical Officer of the Kuwait Oil Company in 1947. During his time in Scotland he met and married Vivian Duncan, daughter of the artist John Duncan. Their daughter Deirdre was born in Scotland in 1941. He founded the first permanent modern hospital in Kuwait in cooperation with the Kuwait State Medical Service. The "Southwell Hospital" was ready for occupation in 1960. In 1962 he retired from medical service and the family moved to Bellapais on the island of Cyprus. There he composed numerous classical pieces for piano forte (among others: The Tinker And The Waterhorse, Spring Tide, Despedida and Cokkils).