When Dr Andrew Jackson first clapped eyes on Grassington, he was hooked. He was determined to try to make the village his home and workplace.

And the GP achieved his ambition – a job treating the illnesses and ailments of Upper Wharfedale folk which has lasted 26 years.

“I’d been a GP in Worcester 10 years and when I visited Grassington decided it was where I wanted to be,” said Dr Jackson, who retired last week.

At 64, he decided it was time to step down from general practice at Grassington Medical Centre which he helped to establish with his former partner Ian Kinnish.

It won the accolade of top GP practice in the country.

They also set up a first response unit which involved them being on call to react quickly to local emergencies in their own specially set-up vehicles. Dr Jackson said: “I have very much enjoyed the work, especially those times when we were on call every alternate night.

“On those visits there was always time to sit and have a cup of tea and a chat but the amount of paperwork we have now has changed all that.”

He is keeping his hand in by continuing to treat patients with skin problems - his specialism is dermatology. But he is looking forward to being able to indulge more fully in some of his other passions, especially the theatre. He was the founder of the Penny Plain street theatre based in Grassington and he has been involved with the pantomime for the past 26 years.