A CHURCH was overflowing today as a community paid tribute to a much-loved village doctor.

St Peter’s Church, at Croft-on-Tees, near Darlington, was packed with villagers wishing to say farewell to Dr Ian Bagshaw MBE, while more listened to the service outside on a loud-speaker.

Tributes to Dr Bagshaw have poured in since news of his passing at the age of 83, with many describing him as the personification of the traditional village GP, who knew all his patients individually, and was willing to respond to call-outs at all hours.

His son, Roderick, gave a moving and humorous tribute at the funeral, saying: “He lived a life of substance, much too rich to be shoehorned into a short tribute. It was a life of making a difference.”

Dr Bagshaw, who was raised in Leeds, started his medical career in The Army and was awarded the MBE for outstanding humanitarian service while stationed in Brunei with the 7th Gurkha Rifles. During that time, he worked in makeshift camps set up to care for the Vietnamese boat people, who had fled at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.

After returning to England, he worked at Catterick Garrison before joining the general practice in Hurworth-on-Tees in 1983, and overseeing the move to the modern surgery at Rockliffe Court in 1989.

Dr Bagshaw in his younger days as Hurworth's GPDr Bagshaw in his younger days as Hurworth's GP (Image: Bagshaw family) Roderick told the congregation of his father’s pride in having been a Boy Scout: “He took the oath ‘to do my best to help others’ and he kept it all his life,” he said.

“What mattered to him most was providing the kind of service you can only provide if you know your patients,” he added. “He loved serving his patients and they loved him in return.”

Roderick said 'service and family' were the biggest priorities in his father’s life. He had been married to his ‘soulmate’, Victoria, for 58 years and they had four children – Roderick, Fiona, Nichola, and Darroch – plus ten grandchildren.

As well as being the long-serving village GP, Dr Bagshaw was a supporter of numerous local causes. He also loved nature and was a former chairman of Darlington CHA and HF Rambling Club.

A proud Yorkshireman, it had been Dr Bagshaw’s wish to be buried in the county, which is why the funeral took place in the Richmondshire village of Croft-on-Tees, a mile down the road from Hurworth-on-Tees, in County Durham.

Donations made in his memory were in aid of The Gurkha Welfare Trust and The John Muir Conservation Trust.

The funeral service was conducted by Lay Minister, Viv Waugh, who said: “It is a huge tribute to Ian that so many have come here today, and the cards and messages sent to the family have been overwhelming and comforting.

“We are so fortunate to have had such a special doctor as part of our community and he will never be forgotten.”

Dr Bagshaw with his wife and 'soulmate', VictoriaDr Bagshaw with his wife and 'soulmate', Victoria (Image: Bagshaw family)