William Anthony Warburton

William Anthony Warburton (“Tony”) was educated at Rydal School in Colwyn Bay before studying medicine at Liverpool University. His hospitality, generosity, and friendly nature became apparent to my wife and me when I was invited for interview in 1978 for a place in the practice in Norwich, where he was junior partner. He and Benita took us out into the city, introduced us to friends, and put us up in their house for the night. We felt at home before we had even started. Over the years Tony and I became close, and I grew to appreciate him as a kind and supportive partner at work, free with sensible and practical advice that helped me a great deal, especially early on when I was finding my feet.

The practice was a converted terraced house on the corner of Clarke Road, just beyond Magdalen Gates to the north. Having done house jobs in Chester, followed by a couple of locum posts, Tony had started there in 1962, joining partners Ronnie Scott, Jim Beveridge, and Guy Ashbee. In those days, each doctor was responsible for his own patients, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, apart from Thursday afternoons, when the practice closed and one partner was on duty to allow the others a break. Tony had quite a struggle persuading the others that it would be a good idea to have a night time and weekend rota, so that they could have time off. He got his way in the end. It is remarkable …