DOCTOR Michael Duckworth will end his 30-year spell at Roundstone Surgery in Trowbridge on November 30. 

The 58-year-old senior partner brought his three-decade long stay at the surgery, in Polebarn Circus, to a close this week, much to the sadness of colleagues and patients.

The GP, who lives in Standerwick, Somerset, will now head off to the county he lives in for out of hours, part time GP work in the coming months.

"I have been here for 30 great years and I am fortunate it is still going strong. I have had a lot of good memories but I am really looking forward to a change in my life," he said.

"I would like to say many thanks to all my great colleagues over the last 30 years, to my past and current partners, to the new partners Dr Simon Cleeve and Dr Catrinel Wright and for all the support from the surgery and local community.

"The team at Trowbridge hospital and Trowbridge Oaks Nursing Home have been great too. The nursing home is where I met my wife of 25 years, Melanie, who worked as a matron there.

"What is most rewarding for me is all the kind thoughts from my patients. I joined 30 years ago and I still see some patients from back then. Each appointment was harder to take than the last."

When Dr Duckworth joined in 1987, things were very different back then than what they are like today.

"We had no computers or mobile phones but somehow we got through it all. There have been changes, some good, some bad, but the practice is still going strong," he said.

"The day I came for my interview, the senior partner met me at his front door, shook me by the hand and said 'This man looks worried, get him a drink', which they did.

"Next week we are having a party in Bristol which should be good."

He also paid tribute to former chairman of Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Stephen Rowlands, who died last week.

"Unfortunately the medical community lost Stephen Rowlands, who was recently retired, I want to send the best of wishes to his family, he will be sorely missed," he said.