Obituary: Dr Morris Stanton, GP

Dr Morris Stanton, who has died at 100, was a long-serving and highly-regarded general practitioner in the Burmantofts and Shadwell areas of Leeds.

Born in humble circumstances to first generation Polish Jewish immigrant parents who had escaped the pogroms and spoke only in Yiddish, he was brought up in the Leylands, one of the poorest parts of Leeds.

Having passed the 11-plus exam, he attended the City of Leeds School where he matriculated at 16 and was awarded a scholarship to study Medicine at Leeds University. He began there at 17 and graduated in 1943, at or near the top of his year group.

Upon qualification, he undertook work in various hospitals, but was soon called up to do his National Service, serving as a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He saw postings in India, Egypt, Palestine and Greece and during this time developed a keen interest in pathology. On demobilisation he considered a career in that area, but mindful of the need to support his wife and family, he opted for general practice. He purchased a small private practice in Burmantofts, where he was to work until his retirement in 1985.

In 1948, the surgery was incorporated into the NHS and the list size increased rapidly, necessitating the recruitment of another GP, Dr Barry Brown. By the time he retired, the list had grown even further, and the practice had moved into a health centre, with a branch surgery in Shadwell staffed by five doctors.

In retirement, Dr Stanton maintained his interest in clinical medicine by reading journals, and could ask searching questions of working doctors well into his 90s.

He is survived by his wife, Jenny, two daughters, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren.