A farewell gathering to mark the retirement of Dr Edward ffrench-Constant attracted a large number of patients, staff and friends from the Carnon Downs Surgery.

The doctor, who became senior partner following the recent retirement of Dr David Maling, has looked after many of the surgery’s 5,350 patients since he joined in 1988 as Dr Wilfred Jackson retired.

He has been a highly-regarded and respected GP, always prepared to make time for his patients, to listen with patience and understanding. News of his leaving was met with sadness, by staff and patients alike, followed by a shower of gifts and cards to wish him well for the future. Staff at the surgery held their own leaving party for him before his final day with patients.

Born in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, in 1958, Dr ffrench-Constant attended Falcon College in Rhodesia, coming to England aged 18, to study medicine at St John’s College, Oxford, and the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

He came to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske in 1982 working under the late Dr Brian Prout, and took part in many specialties there, and doing a GP training year at the upper Lemon Street practice.

While at Carnon Downs he oversaw the arrival of the first computer in the practice. He was responsible for convening the first meeting of all the general practices in the Carrick area, forming a group that is now the Carrick Commissioning Group.

Dr ffrench-Constant’s father was a GP, training at Oxford before going to Rhodesia to practice. His grandfather was the first radiologist in Cornwall, appointed in 1937, and lived on the Feock road in a house he had built, called Bocoys, now Tanglewood.

The doctor plans to spend his new-found leisure time gardening, keeping bees, walking, taking photographs, cooking, travelling, and, he says, continuing to enjoy and study the natural world.

Dr Linda Simpson, who succeeds him as the surgery’s senior partner, said: "Edward ffrench-Constant is an exceptional GP. In addition to being much respected and loved by his patients, he has been instrumental in developing the practice at Carnon Downs, and in contributing to the work of the local NHS. We have been very fortunate to have him as a colleague, and his patients have been very fortunate to have him as their GP."