TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of a man who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the North-East’s longest-serving doctors.

Doctor Tony Shaw, a GP at Darlington’s Moorlands Surgery for 37 years, passed away following a battle with cancer. He was 66.

Dr Shaw grew up as an only child in a working-class family in Liverpool - the son of a docker and seamstress – and won a scholarship to the independent Merchant Taylors School for Boys, in Crosby, after showing academic promise.

He had planned to study medicine at St Thomas’s Hospital Medical School, in London, but the death of his father led to him staying close to his mother and graduate from Liverpool University instead.

He moved to Darlington as a newly-qualified doctor and stayed at Moorlands Surgery throughout his career, developing into a highly respected GP.

He met his wife, Fiona, when she was working as a receptionist at the surgery, and they would have been married for 28 years this July. They have two daughters, Harriet, 25, and Emily, 21.

Fiona said: “He loved being part of the community and the continuity of seeing patients. He had a reputation for being spot-on with his diagnoses.

“He had a poor upbringing and he was determined to better himself. He became a real family man and loved nothing more than spending time with his girls. We enjoyed some wonderful family holidays.”

Harriet said: “He was the most incredible, caring, hard-working, and definitely bonkers father to me and my lovely sister. Not only was he an amazing dad, he was also a wonderful friend, an inspiration to so many people, and a devoted husband.”

Emily added: “Anyone who met my dad knows he was a one in a million person and the life and soul of every party. He was kind, caring, smart, hardworking, fun to be around and hilarious. I’m so proud of being his daughter.”

His former practice partner, Dr Cliff Carter, described him as “a loving family man and a very dependable doctor who did a lot of good during his career”.

Dr Carter added: “Tony became a great friend and trusted colleague, with excellent knowledge and he was a superb diagnostician. He was a very safe pair of hands as a doctor and absolutely devoted to his family. It is so sad.”

In 2015, Dr Shaw, was praised for his initiative in saving the life of a patient with a heart blockage. After becoming frustrated by ambulance delays, he drove the patient from the surgery to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, to be fitted with a pacemaker.

A private family funeral will be held on Monday, May 11, and a memorial service will be arranged when the lockdown restrictions are lifted.