Sir, - "The time has come to finally retire. As and from the 15th August 1998 I regret to say I will no longer be in a position to see patients." So wrote Dr Terence C. Jackson of Sandford Road, Ranelagh in a farewell letter to his patients on August 5th, 1998, many years indeed after the normal retirement age. He was in fact the longest serving GP in this city, if not in the country. He did not enjoy a long retirement and passed away on December 6th last.
Terry Jackson was ardently devoted to his profession and it was widely accepted he was an excellent diagnostician. No matter how crowded his waiting-room, each patient got his undivided attention with never the slightest sign of hurrying on to see the next patient in the queue. He was particularly attentive to his more senior patients who were too ill to come to his surgery.
Sadly, in his last few years in practice, when not with his patients he had to devote every moment of his time to his ailing wife Marjorie (who predeceased him) to whom he could not be more devoted. This writer saw him shed tears in his surgery as he recalled her, tears no doubt now turned to joy to be united with her again.
Dr Terry Jackson will be long remembered and mourned by many, and most deservedly so.
Thank you, Sir, for giving me, privileged to be a patient of his, space on your Letters page to pay this little tribute in appreciation of all his kindness. - Yours, etc.,
Alf Rhatigan, Mountainview Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.