Tributes pour in for Rasen’s ‘gentleman doctor’

Dr Graham Parry may have retired from the town practice more than 20 years ago, but he made a big impression on his patients and work colleagues.

Dr Rob Weeks worked alongside him and paid a very personal tribute.

He writes: Graham Parry was the last of the Gentleman Country GPs.

“I remember on my arrival at Market Rasen in 1994, Graham jovially bounding in to meet me, dressed in Tweed jacket waistcoat with fob watch like Steed from the Avengers.

“I realised very quickly that this was the place for me to be!

“Graham was a very experienced clinician, having started his professional life as a gynaecologist, before transferring to primary care.

“In those days, we looked after our patient 24/7 and Graham would always be out visiting patients at all hours around the practice area if he was needed.

“Whilst he was very experienced, he was also humble enough to realise that the new kids on the block were slightly more up-to-date with the medical technology and he was never afraid to come and discuss new treatments and try and keep himself as up-to-date as possible.

“His care towards his patients was unequalled.

“It was common for him to go to Lincoln County [hospital] several times a week to visit his patients.

“He was also not afraid to tell secondary care what he thought of them, if he felt his patients weren’t being looked after properly.

“He once sent a pigs ear to the chief executive of Lincoln hospital, with a message suggesting the said object represented what he thought of their management of one of his patients.

“There are many anecdotes about Graham at work; too many to mention, but all put a smile on my face just at the reminiscence of them .

“Graham was always jovial and greeted both staff and patients alike with great affection, which continued after his retirement.”

For many years, Graham combined the two loves of his professional life - medicine and horse racing - as the race course doctor.

Dr Weeks said: “If you couldn’t find Graham at the surgery, he would be up at the course. I am aware he was well respected throughout the racing community and over the years saved several jockeys lives with his quick thinking pragmatic practice of emergency medicine.

“Graham was a pleasure to work with and to be around; we are all devastated at his passing.

“There will never be another Graham Parry!”

As Dr Weeks said, Market Rasen Racecourse was a big part of Graham Parry’s life and the course’s general manager Nadia Powell described his death as “terribly sad news”, adding “Graham really was one of a kind; a true gentleman”.

Mrs Powell continued: “Graham Parry was a true friend of all of us at the racecourse and his wise counsel on all medical matters were greatly appreciated by us all.

“We staged a race in 2005 to honour his retirement and it was always a pleasure to see him enjoying a day at the races in more recent years.

“All of us at Market Rasen Racecourse send our sincere sympathy to his family.”

These sentiments have been repeated many times over as local residents turned to social media to express their sadness at Doctor Parry’s passing.

Members of Market Rasen Action Group expressed their sadness through their Facebook page, describing him as ‘family doctor to many residents, a very well known, friendly gentleman, who will be dearly missed by many’.

Many other residents chose to add their comments, with Rita Burks saying: “A fantastic doctor with a huge heart...always had time for you.”

Sarah Toyne said: “I had the pleasure of working for Dr parry a the surgery back in the 1990s.

“He was a wonderful man and a delight to work with.”

Martin Hare commented: “He always talked to people and supported the local community.

“I always thought he was a ‘people’s’ doctor.”

Adrian Richards said: “Very sad to hear this news.

“Lovely man and definitely a pillar of the Market Rasen community.”

Dr Parry’s daughter-in-law Lucy, posted her own tribute.

She said: “He was truly the best father-in-law.

“We had such good times...often involving horseracing and alcohol! So missed by us all.”

Dr Parry’s funeral will be held next Monday, October 5.

Under current coronavirus guidelines, numbers will be greatly restricted at the service, but is hoped people will be able to pay their respects in other ways.

Dr Parry will begin his final journey from J Marshall & Son Funeral Directors at 11.30am, with Bill Marshall leading the cortege on horseback.

The cortege will travel along Queen Street and out to Middle Rasen, where it will head down Low Church Road and past Dr Parry’s home, before turning into North Street and heading to the parish church.

A full obituary will appear in next week’s Market Rasen Mail