RETIRED Evesham GP Dr John Batholomew has died aged 83.

Dr Batholomew, who had been in failing health for some years, passed away at Willowbank Residential Home, Pershore, on January 27. Born in 1922, Dr Bartholomew was educated at St Chad's School and Epsom College before going on to study at St Andrew 's University, Scotland, to read a General MA.

Following this, he joined the RAF as a pilot and was shot down over Dresden in November 1943 spending the remainder of the war as a prisoner in Stulag Luft IV.

In 1945 he returned to St Andrew's to study medicine, qualifying in 1950. His first position was at the Birmingham Accident Hospital where he met and became engaged to Dr Margaret Oliver. They married in 1952, the same year he joined Drs Goodwin and Astley in general practice in Bengeworth, Evesham. He remained in practice there until his retirement in 1987.

During his professional life, Dr Batholomew took a particular interest in the care of the elderly and ran the geriatric ward at Avonside Hospital, Evesham, in which there is a ward named after him.

A keen supporter of the Royal British Legion, Dr Batholomew sold poppies to raise money for the cause until his increasing lack of mobility made this impossible. In his younger years he was a member of Evesham Golf Club, having a handicap of two on the course at St Andrews'.

Dr Batholomew, whose wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's nine years ago and died in 2004, leaves two sons, a daughter-in-law and a grandson. The funeral will be private but donations may be made in his name to the Alzheimer's Society, care of A V Band, Funeral Directors, 41 St Nicholas Street, Worcester, WR1 1UW.