Private Treaty

Gordon Latto
Pioneer of vegetarianism and holistic medicine

Gordon Latto, the former president of the International Vegetarian Union and of the British Vegetarian Society died on 2 September 1998, at the age of 87. The international vegetarian community loses a man who was a charismatic pioneer for vegetarianism and holistic medicine.

Famous Patients

In 1938 Latto had his first practice in South-on-Sea. At first he was regarded with strong suspicion because of his German contacts, his moral convictions (he was a conscientious objector) and his anti-vivisection attitude.

Gordon Latto was not only very acute in diagnosis but he also possessed the confidence to make his patients believe that they would get better. Especially children loved him very much and liked to visit him although he was rather restrictive in his treatments and diets. He believed in herbal remedies, vegetarian diets and water treatments. His success was remarkable as many patients came to him as a last resort when conventional doctors had given them up. He dedicated all his life to building up an enormous practice which extended the length and the breadth of England as well as to the continent. As he never held any position within the National Health service and did not write any scientific paper or book his reputation was built entirely on the recommendations of satisfied patients. Several well-known persons were among Latto's patients.

Francis Chichester, who sailed round the world was one of them. Chichester came to him with lung cancer. Latto succeeded in healing the malignancy and Chichester's circumnavigation of the world could take place. He followed Latto's advice that he should always get plenty of fresh air.

One patient who publicly acknowledged Latto's treatments was Sir Francis Chichester. He had received dire diagnoses of cancer and spurned the surgeons' advice ("if in doubt, cut it out"), before taking up his wife's recommendation to consult Latto. Afterwards, he sailed single-handed round the world in Gypsy Moth, provisioned at various ports of call with vegetarian victuals. Plenty of fresh air and deep breathing were part of Latto's miracle cures. Gordon Latto lived as he taught. He was a lean, approachable, energetic, family man with strong Scottish allegiance. For all the gentleness in his work and ministry he remained a fierce opponent at tennis, golf, and croquet, with skills of gamesmanship that matched his therapeutic talent. He was a superb raconteur and keenly in demand for speeches

Ford T2 Motorbike similar to the one Sir Francis Chichester toured around New Zealand.