A doctor who has served Honiton’s community for more than 28 years has announced his retirement.

Dr David Ward joined Honiton Surgery in October 1988, having completed his GP training working at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, and then the Coleridge Medical Centre, in Ottery St Mary.

Dr Ward started a new list of patients when he joined, as there had been a lot of house building, particularly on the Gittisham Vale Estate.

At one stage, all the patients on these new roads seemed to be on his list!

Dr Ward was particularly involved in the development and use of the computer system at the surgery and by September 1990 there was a computer screen on every desk and, shortly afterwards, the practice was able to stop using paper notes.

He was also very involved in the research group that started in the practice. He completed an MPhil in 2002 and was particularly interested in research into respiratory diseases such as asthma.

Later on, he became involved with medical student teaching at the practice and also became a trainer of GP registrars.

Dr Ward is married to Dr Janet Ward, who has also just retired from the practice.

They have three children and have recently become grandparents.

David is looking forward to an active retirement and being able to pursue his hobbies of travel, gardening and photography.

He has also recently joined the Sheldon Singers, having been a member of the choir in the early 1990s, and will be singing with them in their Christmas concert.

He looks forward to continuing to be involved in the life of the town and continuing to keep in touch with his patients and practice staff while he is out and about.