Dr Raymond Higgins is retiring from general practice after 37 years.

After spending so many years treating patients and training new GPs at the Essex Lodge, the 65-year-old is now ready for some family time.

Ray, from Plaistow, said: “I feel I have done everything I wanted to do.

“The last couple of years I have found it tiring to work at the level I want too and I’ve got lots of stuff that I have not been able to do because of the work commitments.

“My children have all been round the world on a gap year and I am still waiting for mine.”

The course director for Newham’s GP training scheme spoke about his achievements from starting the programme.

“When I first started with Doctor Jones died last year, we had 4 people on the scheme and now we have 42, which is nice to know that many are on their journey to become GPs,” he said.

“When you have worked that long, there are families I have looked after. You get to be a little part of their life journey as you treat generations of them.”

Ray was thrown an open retirement party for patients and former colleagues to share their thanks with him.