Anyone treated at Haslemere Health Centre has Dr Alfred Thomas to thank. The revered GP, who served Haslemere for 45 years, passed away on October 18 at age 93, after a fall at his Hindhead home.

Originally from Manchester, Dr Thomas was born to a GP father and discovered Haslemere during medical school, instantly falling in love with the town. After National Service with the RAF during the Cold War, he returned in 1960, settling in Haslemere with his wife, Barbara.

When Dr Thomas joined the local practice, it operated in an old-school way, with doctors focused on home visits and occasional surgeries held in their own homes. He took on leadership roles at Liphook, Holy Cross, Shottermill, Haslemere Hospital, and St George’s Wood Maternity Hospital, where his third child was born.

As principal partner, Dr Thomas spearheaded the modernisation of health care in Haslemere, leading the development of the health centre. He prioritised wider corridors, larger consulting rooms, and a design that put patient comfort first. The new health centre soon gained a reputation as a national centre of excellence and earned him a civic medal for his contributions to health and the Haslemere community.

Beyond medicine, Dr Thomas was a nature advocate, restoring local woodlands and planting hundreds of trees. He was also a passionate painter, chairing the Haslemere Art Society, and a lifelong sportsman who played for Haslemere Hockey Club. Dr Thomas is survived by three children and two grandchildren, leaving an enduring legacy of service, conservation, and creativity.