THE funeral has taken place of a long-serving surgeon who performed thousands of operations in nearly 30 years at Durham's Dryburn Hospital.

Robert Petticrew, senior consultant surgeon at Dryburn until his retirement in 1978, died recently at the age of 87.

One of three brothers, he was the son of a family doctor in West Yorkshire.

Mr Petticrew served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second World War, based in Kirkwall, in Scotland, and Madagascar and Abyssinia.

He completed his surgical training in Bradford, before moving to Lanchester when he became a consultant in Durham in 1951.

Former colleague, Dr Joan Robson, who as a registrar worked with Mr Petticrew between 1970 and 1972, said he helped to spearhead early developments at both Dryburn and Chester-le-Street hospitals as a member of the management committee.

"He is particularly remembered for his caring attitude to patients and staff and for his emphasis on the importance of team work," said Dr Robson, who now lives in retirement in Liverpool.

Mr Petticrew lived with his wife, Eleanor, at Hollybush and Broadmeadows farms, near Lanchester, having an interest in dairy farming and horses, especially hunters.

They later settled at Briardene, Lanchester, before both moved into Hallgarth Nursing Home in Durham, where Eleanor died last year.

Mr Petticrew, who died at the home recently following an illness, is survived by nieces Hilary and Maureen, and a godson, Bob, a nephew of his late wife.

A funeral service was held for Mr Petticrew at Durham Crematorium chapel, followed by cremation, last week