Two long-time colleagues are retiring after serving Skipton’s Dyneley House Surgery for more than 60 years.

GPs Julian Allen, 63, of Gargrave, and Andy Bundock, 60, of Skipton, are calling it a day after caring for patients in the community for 33 and 31 years respectively. Their last day is Sunday.

“I’m still very much enjoying the work, but there is still life to live,” said Julian, who plans to spend more time with his family on their boat on the west coast of Scotland. “Skipton has been an absolutely fantastic place to work. The people are friendly, trusting, very open and often speak their minds.”

And Andy added: “It’s been a privilege to do this. I’ve had plenty of patients who have been shedding tears all over my office. There are very few professions where you’re welcomed in the same way.”

But Andy also said that in recent years the profession had put too much focus on paperwork rather than patient care.

“Whilst remaining flexible, we’ve tried to provide as much personal care to families as possible,” he said.

The two men have seen many changes over the years, with Julian saying he had certainly noticed a lot of improvements in healthcare.

“In that time we have often looked after three, sometimes four, generations of the same family,” he said. “It’s been fairly hard work but there’s a friendly atmosphere and good working environment.”

He also said that he enjoyed being part of the process of designing and setting up the Dyneley House practice when it moved from Clifford House on Keighley Road in 1982.

In addition to being local GPs, Andy has served as police surgeon for 20 years and Julian has been a medical advisor for Skipton Building Society and Wharfedale Rugby Club, where he played in the first team. And while playing for Wharfedale, Julian once sustained a severe gash to the side of his head and called on Andy to patch him up.

“He couldn’t sew up his own head, so I did it with his children watching,” recalled Andy.

While Andy and Julian have served the medical profession for many years, their families have also been involved as well.

Andy’s wife, Julia, is a diabetic nurse and his son, Matt, is studying at Guy’s Hospital in London and is hoping to specialise in either neurology or paediatrics. The couple also have a daughter, Lara.

Julian’s wife, Pam, is an orthoptist and the couple have three children, Charlotte, and Sam and Alastair, who like their dad play rugby at Wharfedale.