A much-loved family doctor has retired after 34 years service to the Bradford district, having worked every weekend for the emergency out-of-hours service.

Dr Neil Winn, of Rockwell and Wrose Practice, started his working life as a young GP on Thorpe Edge estate as the junior GP Partner to Dr Moriarty in 1980.

That well-known general practice, which had 4,000 patients and doctors, wrote all their own letters and prescriptions and new people’s medical histories from memory rather than relying on computers and practice nurses, said Dr Winn, who finished work at the end of March.

Today the Rockwell and Wrose surgery has 9,400 patients, modern facilities and employs 25 staff in two large branches covering the Wrose, Idle and Eccleshill areas.

“One thing I’ve enjoyed is seeing families grow by watching babies become adults and then parents themselves,” Dr Winn said.

As well as his GP duties, he has also mentored countless medical students from Leeds University as an honorary lecturer and seen many become GPs.

He also found time to work as a medical examiner for the Armed Forces.

And on top of that, father-of three Dr Winn has worked tirelessly every Sunday for the Out of Hours service, ensuring patients get to see a GP at the weekend.

Apart from new information technology, Dr Winn said the biggest change was in the nature of medical care. He said: “Now it’s so much more about prevention of problems, whereas when I started it was about treating acute chronic illness.”

Having spent so long in one place, Dr Winn now intends to indulge his passion for adventurous travel along with his wife Sheila, a retired dentist.

Rachel Thompson, practice manager, has worked with Dr Winn for 30 years and said he would be sorely missed by.

“He’s just been the best boss in the world, always cheerful and caring. We are all so sad to see him leave, but wish him a well-earned retirement,” she said.