THE family of a well-known Darlington doctor have paid tribute to his dedicated work in “the town he loved”.

Dr Ken Stephenson died last week at the age of 92 after spending more than three decades treating his patients.

He retired in 1991, but continued working until he was just short of his 80th birthday.

Dr Stephenson grew up in Bishop Auckland and joined the RAF at the age of 18, following the death of his brother during the Second World War.

His son, Hugh, and daughters Angie and Sheila, said he was inspired him to become a doctor following his brother’s death, who was just 22 .

“He was a champion of the NHS – he thought it was the greatest achievement of the 20th century in this country,” said Sheila.

Whilst working in midwifery at Greenbank Hospital, Dr Stephenson met his wife Anne, and Angie puts the success of their marriage down to their choice of career.

“If you like the way someone looks at 3am when they are about to help deliver a baby, the signs are good.

“He loved his work – he was rarely home before 7.30pm.

“If you wanted to see him, he would see you that day - he didn’t go home until the last patient had been seen.

“He would even drop in unexpectedly on patients that he was concerned about – he arrived at the gold club once and diagnosed a man with anaemia.”

Dr Stephenson was thought of so highly by his patients that one offered to give him a very special gift.

“He went round to visit one lady whose husband had died, and she said she was leaving him her house,” said Angie.

“He was given pictures, and at Christmas, there was always loads of presents from grateful patients.

Dr Stephenson joined the practice of Dr Thompson in Stanhope Road in 1956.

When Dr Thompson retired two years later, the practice merged with the neighbouring site belonging to Dr Cathcart, and the Netherlaw surgery was created – which has since become the Blacketts Medical Practice.

“He had a wicked sense of humour but in a very gentle way – people cared very much for him,” said Sheila.

“He was very sociable and really good at telling stories - he had lots of friends , and patients would bump into him all the time in Sainsburys.

“One person even came up to him and said he had delivered them from his midwife days.”

Angie added: “He had a lot of patience when it came to his work, but it wasn’t there if you asked him to change a bulb or do the gardening.

“He wasn’t a man for DIY – if he needed a plumber, he’d say he’d rather pay someone and help feed their family than do it himself.”

As well as his son and two daughters, Dr Stephenson leaves behind six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

“He loved Darlington – he called it the centre of the universe. He lived in the same house for almost 60 years,” said Angie.

  • Dr Stephenson’s funeral will take place at All Saints’ Church on Ravensdale Road on Friday, March 3 at 2pm.