'True gentleman' retires after 60 years in NHS

A stalwart of Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital is retiring after 60 years with the NHS.

John Harris, legal services manager at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), said he loved his career so much he would "do it all again".

Starting at 06:30 every morning and never working from home, he has been regarded as one of the trust's most dedicated employees.

Mr Harris joined the Mid Worcestershire Hospital Management Committee - now Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust - on 14 December 1964, working for the hospital secretary and based in Bromsgrove General Hospital.

He came to Wolverhampton when he was appointed deputy hospital secretary at the former Royal Hospital, in February 1968; becoming hospital secretary four years later.

"I regarded myself as very fortunate because it was a plum job," said Mr Harris, whose last day at work is New Year's Eve.

"Wolverhampton was strategic and very important operationally in the West Midlands, because of the excellence of its medical services."

He said he got into law because "my mum said to me 'you have been arguing since you were born so you might as well be paid for it'!"

"I would do it all again because it's been so varied and personally satisfying," he added.

He still teaches medical law to first and second-year doctors, middle-grade doctors and trainee endoscopists.

He said his favourite moment – although sad – was being asked one Easter weekend to help a lady with her will.

"She was very unwell, and I was told she hadn't got long to live," he said.

"It was a particular set of circumstances, but she was able to nod and give consent and signed her will, albeit very faintly.

"She reached out and squeezed my hand. It gave me a lot of satisfaction being able to do that for her. She died a few hours later."

Mr Harris has been named the December winner of RWT's Exceeding Expectation Award, which recognises staff for consistently going the extra mile.

He met his wife of 52 years, Jo, when she was a sister at the Royal, and the couple have a son, Tim.

Since news of Mr Harris's retirement was shared, dozens of comments from colleagues praising him were posted on the trust's Facebook page.

Ann Hazel said he was a "true gentleman, professional, knowledgeable, patient, kind, with a heart of gold".

Pamela Ryan added: "A lovelier man you would be hard pushed to find."

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