TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘selfless’ former doctor at Barnsley Hospital after he died surrounded by his friends and family.
Dr John Bridson, 80, died of septicemia and bladder cancer just after midnight last Tuesday at his Wombwell home.
John worked at Barnsley Hospital as lead paediatrician from 1976 until he retired in 2000.
It wasn’t just residents across the borough who John helped - he was also worked in field hospitals during the Kosovo crisis and he helped to cure hypothyroidism in Albania.
His wife, 71-year-old Jenny, has previously spoke poignantly about his dementia diagnosis in 2014 - but admits they knew that something was wrong in the years leading up.
She told the Chronicle: “I worked at the hospital when John was the boss and that’s how we met - we were married for 31 years.
“We got married in Barnsley Town Hall on May 25, 1990, and he just looked after us all - we’re so proud of all he achieved as he was world-renowned for his work.
“He was diagnosed with dementia in 2014 but we knew something was wrong in the years before that - it devastated us but we decided that we didn’t want to dwell on it.
“John came out of hospital a week ago last Thursday and he seemed perky but he died of septicemia and bladder cancer on Tuesday morning.
“He was the most placid, kind man and was so unassuming - he asked for so little but yet he gave so much.”
John leaves behind his six children and nine grandchildren.
A Just Giving page has been created in memory of John, which hopes to raise £1,000 to continue to support Barnsley Hospital’s special care baby unit and Maternal and Childhealth Advocacy International (MCAI), of which he was a patron.
To donate to the Just Giving page, click here.
His funeral will be held at Barnsley Crematorium, Ardsley, at 2.10pm on June 11.
