THE funeral has taken place of a well-known doctor and charity champion who died days after his wife.

Doctor John Jeremy Slowe died on Wednesday, January 29, aged 89, five days after the death of his 77-year-old wife, Dorothea.

The former consultant anaesthetist retired from Durham's Dryburn Hospital in September 1979, living until recently in a farmhouse at Shincliffe, on the outskirts of the city.

During his retirement he became a leading figure in the fundraising drive for Macmillan Cancer Relief in the Durham area.

He became chairman of the charity's Durham committee in 1979, was made president in 1990, and was instrumental in helping the first two Macmillan nurses to be employed in Durham.

In June 1991, he was presented with Macmillan Cancer Relief's highest accolade, the President's Award, for his work.

The charity's northern region director, Maureen Parsons, paid tribute to Dr Slowe.

She said: "The Macmillan nurses he helped put into post will have given help and support to hundreds of local people living with cancer over the years, and will continue to do so in the future.

"Macmillan and many local people have much for which to thank Dr Stowe."

A funeral service was held at Durham Crematorium four days after his wife's funeral at St Mary's Church, Shincliffe.