A MUCH loved and highly respected Lower Gornal GP has hung up his stethoscope after a career spanning almost 40 years.

Dr Richard Gee, has retired as senior partner at the Lower Gornal Medical Practice, aged 64.

He came to Gornal as a locum GP in 1971 after qualifying at Birmingham University, and after six months applied to be a partner.

Dr Gee played an important part in the development of Primary Care services across Dudley and worked for many years to improve the services available to patients and to help practices work collaboratively.

He has been chairman of the Dudley Primary Care Group as well as the Dudley Commissioning Forum and has enjoyed working with the people of Gornal whom he describes as “full of character and individuality and yet with a very strong sense of community.”

Dr Gee said: “I’ve shared both laughter and tears with my patients and staff, who have helped me as much as I have tried to help them.”

Practice manager Tina Ranson added: “He has become a much respected and much loved figure in the local community with extremely loyal patients.

Patients had the chance to say farewell at an open evening and staff presented the keep fit enthusiast with a new running machine and had the surgery chair he has used for 40 years re-upholstered for him to take home.