A founder of Cherrydown Veterinary Group in Basildon has died aged 72.

Bernard Wells, who worked in Basildon for 30 years, saw the town change from largely farm land to an urban district.

He lived in Church Street, Great Burstead, since retiring 12 years ago.

Mr Wells had a lifelong love of animals and was well respected in the veterinary field, having been president of both the British Veterinary Association and SPVS, the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons.

The practice was established in 1959 using the two front rooms of his bungalow in Timberlog Lane as the surgery and waiting room.

He later moved into the central Basildon clinic, originally called Wells and Partners. As it grew he decided to change the name to Cherrydown Veterinary Group.

His wife Toni said: "He always had a keen interest in animals and animal welfare. He was a city boy, born just outside Ipswich. He started working on a farm during the war. He fell in love with the work and the farmer there took him under his wing.

"Cherrydown was built in 1959 and at the time it would deal with 50 per cent large animals and 50 per cent small animals. By the time he retired most of the farmers had given up and it was mostly small animals."

For many years he lived in a house attached to the surgery with his wife and three children - Fiona, Tim and Nicola.

Mrs Wells said: "If there was something in the hospital we were in and out all the time checking them. We were never off duty. The practice was his life until he retired.

"We always had animals in the house, like cats and dogs. We always had Labradors too. He used them as working dogs. He was also a keen fisherman until he developed Parkinson's in 1992. But he never lost his love of animals."

His daughter, Nicola Bute of Butlers Grove, Langdon Hills, said: "There must be lots of people who remember him from when he was practising."

Mr Wells had been ill for some time, and had been in hospital since November 2001. He died on Monday.

The family are asking people to make donations in his memory to Forth, the rheumatology department of Harold Wood Hospital where he received treatment for more than 20 years.

They were particularly keen to thank Dr Geoffrey Clarke who "kept him mobile despite the crippling disease".

The funeral has not been arranged yet but is expected at the end of next week.

Published Thursday, March 14, 2002