A MEMORIAL service will be held later this month to remember Dr R.J.S. Fairbairn, a GP who had served the Wellington area for more than 30 years.

Dr Rod Fairbairn died on February 26 following 47 years of living and working in Somerset with 32 of those serving the health needs of people in and around Wellington.

Dr Fairbairn was born in Birmingham to a post mistress and insurance agent. As a young boy he moved to Weston-Super-Mare where he attended the local grammar school.

He saved for his university dream by working on the deckchairs and the Grand Pier, eventually studying medicine at the University of London, which he found challenging yet uplifting and inspiring.

He trained at Westminster Hospital where his hard work and dedication was rewarded by entering the profession of his choice and it was during this time he met and fell in love with Joanna, who was a nurse at the hospital and who would go on to become his wife.

He and his wife Joanna moved to Wellington in 1973 where they had three daughters Emma, Sara and Anna, two of whom teach languages, with the other working as a Consultant Physician in chest medicine.

Dr Fairbairn was active in the community and wider medical world. He was a governor of Wellesley Park Primary School and an independent director of Tone Leisure.

He was a long-term member of the Local Medical Committee and was also chairman of the League of Friends of Wellington Hospital and the Arthritis and Rheumatic Council, as well as Wellington and District Healthy Living Centre.

He was a dedicated GP to his patients and their families and was well respected as a trusted and loyal doctor.

Dr Fairbairn retired in 2005 and enjoyed spending more time following his passions. He continued to explore his love of France with his wife and family and became more adventurous travelling around the rest of the world.

He had more time to spend playing golf and indulge his love of the theatre as well as walking and exploring the local countryside.

He also took immense delight in spending as much time as possible with his seven grandchildren, who gave him endless pleasure and pride, particularly enjoying the annual trips with all the family to North Devon.

The family would like to say thank you for all the kind words and gestures of support they have received, saying that he was referred to by many as ‘a humble, kind and true gentlemen who will be greatly missed by all of his family and those who knew him’.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 21, at St John’s Church in High Street, Wellington, at 11am.