STAFF at Kington Hospital were on hand to care for well-known county doctor William Logan Jack when he died, aged 93.

Dr Jack was highly respected for his skills as a surgeon at the hospital where a ward was named in honour of his services.

He died at the hospital on November 20 and was buried yesterday, Wednesday, November 28, at Huntington churchyard.

Dr Jack had been a familiar face in Kington for nearly 70 years and several of the town's pensioners, whom he brought into the world, are a testament to his long service.

"He will be greatly missed by his family and friends and many tributes to his life and work have been paid to his family," said daughter, Felicity Jack.

His unstinting work wasn't hampered by the loss of one foot following an accident at the age of six when he was run over by a tram.

Born in Australia he travelled to England to pursue his studies after graduating in medicine at the University of Adelaide in 1928.

He worked at St Mary Abbot's Hospital in London before coming to Kington in 1932 to as locum with Dr Gilbert Winter Dryland, and later married his daughter, Dorothy.

He entered into his job wholeheartedly and what started as a temporary post didn't end until 1979 when he retired.

General practice during the 1930's depression was very different from today and his training for Australia's rugged outback was invaluable for what was a rural and isolated community. It was Kington's coal truck that was used as Ambulance and hearse, driven by the owner of Central Garage.

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It is thanks to Bill, as he was known, that a St John's Ambulance brigade was founded in the town. He was superintendent from 1937 until 1944, when he was promoted to a county position. He later became a serving brother of the Order of St John.

His contribution to the community was not confined to medicine. He was a member and chairman of Kington Urban District Council (1945-52), justice of the peace and chairman of Kington Magistrates (1948-77) and chairman of Kington Agricultural Society and Horse Show (1951-72) before he served as president.

He was chairman of Kington Grammar School between 1956 and 1995 and oversaw the formation of the comprehensive school system in 1962.

He had enjoyed sport at school and university, including rowing, lacrosse and swimming. During the war, he was involved with the Civil Defence and the St John Ambulance. He became a founder member of Llangorse Sailing Club and was still president at the time of his death. His love of water extended to fishing. He often escaped to the Wye or up to the Western Isles of Scotland where one of his three sons was a GP.

The family moved from Kington to Huntington in 1954 when Bill developed an interest in gardening. The beautiful gardens at Huntington Court were enjoyed every July at the village fete with some of the proceeds going to the church that Bill had dedicated many hours of his time to.

He helped both the parish hall and church and over the past few years he was not only churchwarden and treasurer but also made the heavy curtains, laid the carpet and re-hung the bells.

"Buried in Huntington churchyard, he has earned the peace and tranquillity of this beautiful setting," added Felicity.