AFTER 15 years presiding over a string of major changes at Barnoldswick's Park Road Surgery, practice manager Mary Cowgill is facing one last big change - retirement.

Over those years, Mary has seen the practice change, expand and evolve from an old-fashioned doctors' surgery to the modern and well-equipped medical centre that it is today. But while the building and the range of services it provides have changed almost beyond recognition, one thing has remained constant - the guiding principle of traditional care by a dedicated team of family doctors.

That theme has been central to Mary's time at the surgery - now Barnoldswick Medical Centre - and has underpinned all the changes she has seen smoothly through. Now she is handing over the reins to the centre's former fund manager, Alicia Watson, confident that they are in safe hands.

Mary started at the surgery as a receptionist in 1972, moving in 1979 to work at Butts Clinic. Then, 15 years ago and with the surgery facing some big decisions, senior partner Dr Ian Bower asked Mary to return as practice manager.

The practice was formed in 1915 and had altered little since then. But some fundamental changes were needed if it was to grow and keep pace with the town it served.

At that time there were four doctors, one nurse and four members of staff. Now the centre has 30 staff serving a team of six doctors.

The "Health of the Nation" Government White Paper of 1990 brought in some major changes, broadening the role of GPs and the services they could provide at local level. That meant extending the surgery, first converting the upstairs rooms then expanding into an adjoining back-to-back cottage when it became available. Since then it has expanded steadily along that row of cottages as they came onto the market, so that now just one remains at the very end.

The extra space has been converted to consulting rooms and offices and specialist clinics including physiotherapy, midwifery, ear, nose and throat, diabetic, family planning, smear testing, chiropody, ophthalmology, the community psychiatric nurses and counselling - to name just some.

More big changes, and challenges, came with the introduction of fund holding in 1993, giving practices the power to manage their own budgets and buy in the equipment and services they needed. That system was recently phased out and it is the centre's fund holding manager for the past three years, Alicia Watson, who is taking over from Mary, having shadowed her role as practice manager for the past six months.

"My job has changed tremendously over the years and it's sometimes been difficult to keep up with it all," said Mary. "But through all my time here I've been part of a team and they've been a good team, really good to work with.

"At times it has felt hard work but it has always been enjoyable and satisfying. I see a different side to the people here, particularly the doctors. Most people only see them in that role - as the family doctor - but I see the real people, and they're good people."

Mary also paid tribute to her family, her husband Ronnie and daughters Rosemary, and Shirleyanne, who at times saw very little of her, but always remained supportive. Now she hopes to spend more time with them, as well as tackling all those jobs she's been saving for her retirement.

To mark her retirement, the doctors took Mary and Ronnie for a meal at the Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn.

Dr Bower commented: "Mary's been excellent. She's a very dedicated and loyal person who never looks at the clock and always does everything to the best of her ability. If it's not finished, she takes it home. She's totally dependable and we'll certainly miss her."

The rest of the staff - "the girls" - had another treat in store, booking a stretch limousine to take Mary for a meal in Skipton, giving her a really stylish send-off.

But, with Mary living just a bit further up Park Road, the medical centre will still be able to call on her wealth of experience and expertise - in every department: "They've told me Friday is my day for brewing up and to make sure I do some baking before I come!"

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.