TRIBUTES have been paid to a longserving family doctor, who died after a short illness.

Dr Colin Broadbent, who had worked as a doctor in Darlington for more than 40 years, died peacefully at his home last week, aged 77.

Originally from Leeds, Dr Broadbent worked as a senior registrar in orthopaedics at Darlington Memorial Hospital before joining Parkgate Health Centre as a GP, where he served for 40 years.

He started his career in medicine at the University of St Andrews Medical School where he met his wife, June, who was working as a nurse at the time.

After he qualified in 1960, aged 25, the pair moved around the country before settling in Darlington.

Mrs Broadbent, 74, said they had intended to stay in Darlington for just three years, but eventually settled down and never left.

She said: “We made a lot of friends here and ended up staying.”

He was later awarded a Mensa lifetime achievement to medicine fellowship, and also wrote a number of novels on based American History and Red Indians.

His widow, June, said while he was a very private person, the couple shared a number of interests.

She said: “He absolutely loved the Headline Challenge on BBC Tees with Alistair Brownlee and Peter Barron. We couldn’t carry on with the day if we had missed it.

“Even when he was ill he would say to me: “I haven’t missed the Headline Challenge have I?” It was our little thing we used to do together.”

He leaves behind his widow, June, two sons, Russell  and Clive, and two granddaughters, six-year-old Kate, and two-year-old Day.

His son, Russell, 48, described him as a “fresh-faced Yorkshireman with a rosy complexion.”

He said: “He excelled at rugby and cricket and had a passion for playing bridge, but he was a very private person who kept himself to himself. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and saw them whenever he could.

“It has been a hard time for us but everybody has been really helpful over the past few days, and we really appreciate that.”

A service will be held at West Cemetary, on Carmel Road, at 3.45pm on Monday, September 10. Everyone is welcome.