Otago. In the 1974 Queen's Birthday Honours, Purves was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for services to medicine. In 1987, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Medical Research Council the governor-general, Sir Paul Reeves, presented Purves with a special silver medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to medical research. Death He died on 15 April 1993, aged 84, after a long illness. Family Purves married Daphne Helen Cowie in 1939. She survived him as did their two daughters and one son. References External links bookplate.info Rsnz.org 1908 births 1993 deaths New Zealand Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George New Zealand endocrinologists People from Dunedin in health professions University of Otago alumni 20th-century New Zealand medical doctors New Zealand medical researchers