A Keighley GP has retired after more than 30 years’ serving her community.

Dr Carolyn Gill, of Ling House Medical Centre in Scott Street, paid tribute to her colleagues and said she had been privileged to be in a position to help improve the lives of her patients.

Dr Gill, who lives in West Morton and is originally from Manchester, qualified at Middlesex Hospital Medical School, in London. She has worked at Ling House since 1981.

She said: “I’d always wanted to be a family doctor and have always wanted to be able to help people.

“It’s been a rich and rewarding career. I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know the same people over a long period. I’ve known them during their good and bad times.

“I’ve enjoyed being involved in anything people bring my way. They ask me about everything, even for advice about benefits or marriage guidance.

“I’d like to think that as a GP you don’t have a restriction which says you send people away without at least giving them some advice before referring them on.

“Sometimes people don’t know where else to turn to, and sometimes a physical problem may be related to the person being stressed due to some other issue in their life.”

Dr Gill said she would not miss the expanding administrative side of the job, or having to take into account factors such as the cost of medication.

But she said she had been touched and overwhelmed by people’s response to her departure.

“I’ve had flowers given to me and loads and loads of cards,” she said.

“People have been so generous and I’ve been very moved by what they’ve said.

“I’ve now got a lot of catching up to do with looking after the house and garden, and I’m involved in the local folk club and singing groups. I’m also hoping to do some travelling.”

She marked her retirement with a lunch with staff at Ling House.