A dedicated and popular former hospital doctor and GP has retired after caring for thousands of patients during a 40-year medical career in the district.

Colleagues of Dr Morris Brown, from East Morton, threw a party to mark his retirement from the Wilsden and Cullingworth surgeries.

The married father-of-four, who has three grandchildren, said he was “privileged” to have served so many people in Bradford and the Aire Valley.

Dr Brown said: “I have had some very happy memories. I absolutely adore Bradford - it is a wonderful city –- with hospitals in Bradford and Airedale providing excellent care.”

After qualifying from the University of St Andrew’s in his native Scotland, Dr Brown moved to Bradford Royal Infirmary to become a house doctor in 1969. He spent two and a half years there before becoming a GP at Wilsden Medical Practice which also covers Harden, Denholme and Cullingworth.

Dr Brown has seen major advances in patient care and medical technology since he started out four decades ago.

Medical imaging, such as CT and MRI scans, had led to faster diagnosis and keyhole surgery had cut patients' recovery time from weeks to a matter of days, he said.

And treatment of cancer patients and the care of terminally-ill sufferers had also increased dra-matically. Dr Brown, of Cliffestone Drive, said: “We have been able to do far more for patients in the community and less reliance on hospitals, so we can provide care in their localities, which is what people want.

“There is a continuation of care for families, their children and their grandchildren. After 37 years in general practice, it has been a wonderful experience.”

Dr Brown, who has just celebrated 40 years of marriage to wife Liz, said he would now be able to spend more time walking, gardening and with their grand-children and improving his golf handicap.

Dr Brown said: “I have been very privileged to serve communities in Wilsden and Cullingworth and would like to give grateful thanks to all my patients for their kind wishes.”