TWO doctors at Beccles Medical Centre are to retire at the end of the month after a combined service of 64 years.Dr Philip Smith and Dr Ian Battye joined the practice in St Mary's Road in November 1977 and March 1979 respectively.

TWO doctors at Beccles Medical Centre are to retire at the end of the month after a combined service of 64 years.

Dr Philip Smith and Dr Ian Battye joined the practice in St Mary's Road in November 1977 and March 1979 respectively.

But after providing healthcare for more than half a century between them, the partners are calling it a day.

Dr Smith and his wife Caroline arrived in Beccles after his stint working as an anaesthetist. At that time the practice was looking for a GP with an interest in the subject.

He is retiring a little earlier than intended for family reasons. He said: “Over the years I have witnessed marked changes from those early days in Market Street, but it has indeed been a privilege to serve the Beccles and district community over the past years and it is a comfort to know that I leave my patients in excellent hands.”

He will continue to operate in the area doing locum work and provide out of hours care for the foreseeable future.

Dr Battye grew up in the area, and said that he and his wife Rose had always felt welcomed by the people of Beccles and the surrounding villages.

He said: “I have been lucky to have been involved in all the changes in the practice over the years and received the support of outstanding staff at the medical centre, as well as the hospital and pharmacies.

“Farewell to all my patients who I will miss and thank you for being such a wonderful group of people, I hope you all stay healthy.” Dr Battye also intends to do locum work, but hopes to spend a lot of time with his horse, sail in the summer and spend time with his new grandson in Devon.

Doreen Moore, project manager at Beccles Medical Centre, said the doctors and staff would be very sad to see them go.

The practice has recruited three new partners to compliment the existing team, Dr Ike Nnene, Dr Jane Loughridge and Dr Carol Moloney.

Dr Ike Nnene joined the practice in February from London and has considerable experience in all aspects of family medicine, and has worked in the speciality of women's health.

Dr Loughridge moved with her family from Lancashire and has been a GP for more than 15 years.

Meanwhile Dr Moloney, who comes from Cork in Ireland, trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and has completed a four-year general practice training programme with the Trinity College in Dublin.

She will begin work in April.