TRIBUTES have been paid to a surgeon who worked at Andover’s hospital for 25 years.

Dr John Marriott, who was a GP and surgeon at Andover War Memorial Hospital from 1972 until his retirement in 1996, recently died in the Countess of Brecknock Hospice aged 75.

Friends have described the grandfather-of-eight, formerly of Wellesley Road, as a sports-mad athlete and fisherman who will be greatly missed.

Former colleague and fishing companion Alan Lloyd-Davies, who knew Dr Marriott for 44 years, said: “We went on expeditions to Scotland and Wales over the years. We shared a caravan in West Wales and it was lovely.

“He will be, and is, sadly missed by his many friends from all walks of life.”

Dr Marriott was born in Kenya just after the Second World War started. His family returned to the UK when he was 11 and he was educated at Loughborough Grammar School, where he excelled at sport.

He qualified in medicine at St George’s Hospital Medical School before concentrating on surgery.

He became surgical registrar at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and then came to Andover.

Deciding he wanted to spend more time with his family, Dr Marriott changed direction and became a partner in the Croye Close practice with doctors Walton and Waddell, which later moved to the Andover Health Centre and eventually to Charlton Hill Health Centre.

He then joined Andover hospital as a surgeon and operated every Thursday afternoon until his retirement.

He also launched the vasectomy service for Andover and the surrounding area, and later on, a vasectomy reversal service.

Sport was one of Dr Marriott’s main passions.

Mr Lloyd-Davies said: “In his youth he had been an outstanding athlete and rugby player, being a member of the Harlequins RFC and also part of a very powerful second row for St George’s.

“A fine countryman, he was a first class shot and made an annual trip to the Solway Firth for wildfowling and salmon fishing.

“He also fished the River Cothi in West Wales for many years with some of his Andover colleagues.

“It was a sad moment for him when he moved to Andover into his house in Wellesley Road and was forced to sell his matched Purdey shot guns so that he could afford carpets.”

In 2007 Dr Marriott was diagnosed with a serious blood condition and, following a fall in which he broke his leg, he suffered recurring ill health.

He had three children, Sarah, Andrew and Louise, as well as three step-daughters, eight grandchildren, and seven stepgrandchildren.