GOLF and travelling are high on the list of priorities for long-serving Doctor Ian Swan, who retired from Trowbridge’s Bradford Road Medical Centre after 28 years at the practice on Tuesday.

Dr Swan, who lives in Bath with his wife Vicky, is a well known face at the medical centre and has been a trainer for GP trainees since 1993, with overseeing almost 20 over the years.

The 64-year-old is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and was awarded a Fellowship in 2007. He is also an inspector for the Care Quality Commission, which he intends to continue now he has finished at Bradford Road.

He said that one of his proudest achievements during his career is the number of GP trainees he has trained and thanked all the patients and staff at the medical centre for their kind wishes and cards.

“It’s probably not quite hit home yet and at the moment I just feel like I’m going on holiday,” said Dr Swan, who became a senior partner at the practice in 2013. “It will probably hit me in a few weeks when I don’t have to come back.

“28 years is a long time and I feel like I’m probably ready to move on, although I’m not going to stop altogether as I will be continuing as a CQC inspector, which is something I enjoy doing. It’s the first time people have been afraid of me.

“I have had trainee GPs for the past 20 years and one of my trainees even retired before me. One of the things I’m most proud of is the training of new GPs, which has been great for the practice.

“It has been lovely seeing all the nice messages, cards and gifts people have given me and it is very humbling. It has been a real privilege to work at the practice for 28 years and I have many wonderful memories from my time here.”

Dr Swan, who has three sons, is planning on using his retirement to spend more time on the golf course and also hopes to do more travelling with his wife, with the couple already planning a trip to their property in Spain in a few weeks.

“Everyone who knows me knows that I’m going to play more golf and we do have a little house in Spain, so we are planning on spending more time out there and going travelling,” added Dr Swan.

“I’m also very interested in antiques and I have amassed quite a collection over the years, so I’m looking forward to learning more about eBay and making some money from them.”

Lesley Mortlock, office manager at the Bradford Road Medical Centre, said: “Both staff and patients will miss him tremendously. We all wish him a long and happy retirement.”