A RETIRED surgeon who spent most of his career serving the community of Kidderminster has died aged 86.

Natzim Lalljee passed away on Tuesday, July 1, at Kidderminster Hospital after heart failure.

Born in Bombay, India, on May 5, 1928, Mr Lalljee settled in Kidderminster in the mid 1960s.

He was appointed as a consultant surgeon at the town’s hospital in the early 1970s and was subsequently put in charge of the Accident and Emergency department until his retirement in 1996.

Dr Richard Taylor, close friend and former colleague of Mr Lalljee, said: “He was the consultant surgeon at the hospital when I arrived there in 1972.

“He was a huge help to all of us in the early years and could turn his hand to anything in the surgical field due to his wide range of training.

“He was a huge benefit to everyone at the hospital.”

Over the years he operated on and treated thousands of local people, as well as helping to train many junior doctors who passed through the hospital.

The funeral will be held at Wyre Forest Crematorium today (July 10) at 4pm.

His family have requested no flowers and, if desired, donations can be made to Kidderminster Hospital’s League of Friends.