COLLEAGUES have said a fond farewell to a popular Romsey GP who has retired after 30 years at the same surgery.

Ex-staff joined current employees for a leaving lunch to honour Dr Margaret Keightley, senior partner at Alma Road Surgery.

These included nurses, doctors, reception and pharmacy staff and the practice manager Graham Morrison.

A special cake, iced with Arsenal Football Club’s was baked for Dr Keightley – a Gunners fan.

The cake, made by surgery receptionist Ann Pudney, also featured a wheelbarrow of vegetables as Dr Keightley and husband Neil have just taken on an allotment in Romsey.

GPs at Friday’s leaving party included Ian Keith, who is now senior partner, Neil Gavins, Ranjan Dass, Mark Scriminger and Elizabeth Gwilym.

Her fellow GPs bought 61-year-old Dr Keightley a piano to mark her retirement.

Dr Keith said: “She wanted a piano so we got her one. Now she will be able to take up playing again.”

Surgery staff presented her with the piano stool.

Dr Keightley, who has two sons and two daughters,was also presented with numerous bouquets.

Patients signed a book of goodwill messages and handed over donations which will be presented to Dr Keightley shortly. “I am going to miss it but I will be doing some locum work here,” said Dr Keightley who had been the senior patner at Alma Road for 13 years.

“I have seen people through the ups and downs of their lives. Mums have had children and I’ve seen the next generation come through the door. I’ve worked with a great team here,” she said.

Before coming to Romsey in 1984, Dr Keightley was a GP in East London and she trained as a doctor at University College in the capital.

She said that since her early days in medicine, major advances in treatment had seen people surviving conditions that would have shortened their lives 30 years.

“Stroke treatment has improved tremendously and so has treatment for heart disease,” added Dr Keightley.

She will not be putting her feet up in retirement as she off to Peru soon to carry out some medical work with the Vine Trust.

Duncan Platt who is currently a GP at Marchwood will be taking Dr Keightley’s palce at the surgery.