One of the founding doctors of a Finchingfield health clinic has retired.

Dr Andrew Hildrey had been involved with The Freshwell Health Centre, which was built in 1992, since the beginning.

On April 23 clinic staff and about 100 patients said their good-byes to the 59-year-old at High Barn in Great Bardfield.

He said the evening was “lovely” and he was moved patients had raised nearly £1,000 towards a watch.

“I managed to build it up quite successfully [the surgery] so it’s always sad to leave something like that but very satisfying to have done it.”

He described his team at Freshwell as “fantastic”.

The father-of-three may have retired, but he will be working for NHS Mid Essex as a clinical leader for the management team.

However, he is planning on enjoying more free time.

“I just want to relax a bit more really and hope to be able to see more of the world and we have got some friends in New Zealand to go and visit,” he said.

Dr Hildrey lives in Great Bardfield with his wife Judy, 59.

Dr David Oliver is a now a senior partner at Freshwell.