WHEN Dorothy Walker moved to Wensleydale nearly 80 years ago, a trip to the doctor involved walking from Bellerby to Leyburn and back, and a long and uncomfortable wait in the GP's house.

As one of the oldest patients in the practice, she was delighted to be asked to officially open the new Leyburn Medical Centre.

Before unveiling a plaque in the foyer of the new building, in Brentwood, Mrs Walker, 98, recalled arriving in Bellerby at the age of 21.

"There was no talk of a medical centre in those days," she told guests at the ceremony on Wednesday. "We had to walk from Bellerby to the doctor's house in Leyburn and then sit and wait to be seen, then we had a very long walk home again.

"I felt honoured when I was asked to open this new medical centre. At 98, I'm a very good recommendation for the doctors here; I'm still enjoying life."

Mrs Walker, who taught at Bellerby village school and was a music teacher at the convent school in Richmond, still teaches piano to eight young pupils. She also played the organ at Bellerby church for 74 years.

The ceremony was the culmination of more than two years of planning and construction.

Dr Richard Walker, one of five GPs based there, said the practice employed a total of seven people when he arrived 30 years ago.

"Since then, we expanded the building three times and increased the staff threefold and we simply ran out of space," he said.

He thanked those involved in the development of the new centre, including Mr and Mrs David Elkins, who supported the project and provided a bench at the entrance in memory of Mr Elkins.