Tributes as much-loved doctor dies aged 83

Tributes have been paid to a former Walsall doctor who helped thousands of patients and was described by his widow as her "rock".

Dr Norman Young, who worked at practices in Leamore, Bloxwich and Beechdale, has died, aged 83.

The grandfather-of-four was today described by his widow Ilse Young as much-loved with keen interests in sailing and chess.

Mr Young was also a councillor in the 1970s.

Mrs Young, 87, of Broadway, said: "He has helped thousands of patients over the years. He would never miss a call. One Christmas Day he was out delivering twins and his family had to wait a long time for their Christmas dinner.

"I used to call him my rock. I could just depend on him.

"He was lovely and always helped people. He was very popular."

Dr Young, who was born and grew up in Paisley, met his wife at a hospital in Glasgow while he was training and she was nursing.

They married in 1952 and moved to Walsall in 1953 so he could assist at Dr William McCall's practice in Leamore. He later became a partner when he moved to a surgery in Edison Road, Beechdale.

He also worked at Pinfold Heath Centre in Bloxwich in the 1970s and was head of Bloxwich Maternity Hospital for several years.

Mrs Young, a retired PE teacher, said: "He was also a keen chess player. He was a member of Walsall Kipping Chess Club for around 50 years. He was a member of Chase Sailing Club and went sailing for 30 years.

"He used to go dinghy sailing at Chasewater with son Peter. When they started they were known as the capsize champions but they went on to become champions in many races in their Merlin Rocket and won the Swanage Regatta for three years running."

Dr Young died last Monday and is also survived by children Colin, 58, and Rhona, 57. Eldest son Peter died in 2010, aged 58. And grandchildren Leila, aged 29, Marion, aged 25, and 18-year-old twins Christopher and William.

His funeral will be at Streetly Crematorium on February 25 at 3.30pm.