Goodbye from Dr Akester Posted or Updated on 9 Jul 2025

Dear Patients, 

For those that know me, I wanted to let you know that I am due to retire from the practice on the 30th September 2025. I will have worked at the practice for over 30 years and feel so blessed and privileged to have worked with such wonderful patients and colleagues in such a beautiful community. You have all been amazing and inspirational to me over the years.

There have been many changes and challenges within the practice during this time. The buildings themselves have both been substantially modernised. Like many others we had to move and adapt to more remote working following the pandemic. I suspect many of you remember the ‘open’ surgeries we did for many years when I started, which I do have fond memories of (mainly!).

I will miss you all greatly but feel it is right to call it ‘time’ now. During retirement, I hope to spend more time with my family. My first stop will be to visit my son again in Australia. I hope to continue walking and cycling and take up any new opportunities that arise.

I am sorry if I don’t manage to say goodbye to you all personally. I know this would be very difficult due to time constraints, but I wish you all the very best for the future and thank you once again for all your support over the years.

I will still be living locally so hope to bump into you from time to time.

With warmest wishes

Dr Helen Akester

The remaining partners Dr Roberts, Dr Gardner and Dr Freer are incredibly sad to say good bye to their friend and colleague of so many years. But they wish Helen the very best wishes and look forward to hearing all about her adventures in a very well deserved retirement. 

The partners would also like to reassure patients that their desire to provide high quality local care continues and we look forward to welcoming a new partner Dr David Tibbits to the practice in January 2026.