A SURGEON who worked at Worcester Royal Infirmary for nearly 40 years has left £1.3m in his will.

Among his bequests, George Marshall, who died in March, has given £5,000 to the post-graduate medical centre at Ronkswood Hospital.

Mr Marshall started working in Worcester in 1934 and went on to specialise in breast surgery.

When the Charles Hastings Postgraduate Centre opened in 1969, Mr Marshall took on the role of curator of the museum. He gathered together and researched many items connected with the hospital's 250-year history.

During an interview in February 2000, Mr Marshall welcomed the development in chemotherapy, which he said had reduced the need for radical surgery.

"Other developments such as keyhole surgery and the tremendous advances in cataract surgery have altered patient treatments significantly," he said,

Reflecting on the changes in the role of nursing Mr Marshall said: "It's an entirely different job today, with nurses having a much greater knowledge base."

Although the majority of the money will go to relatives, it has been announced a further £5,000 will go to the Salvation Army and children's charity the NSPCC.

John Prosser, honorary curator of the Charles Hastings Medical Museum, said the organisation was "very appreciative" of Mr Marshall's gesture.

"George was a great collector and he had already donated many items from his personal collection to the post-graduate centre at Worcester," he said.

"This collection will form part of the medical museum in the new Charles Hastings Education Centre on the Newtown site.

"The bequest will enable us to develop the museum further and we're very appreciative of this gesture of continuing support."