IT was a day of mixed emotions as Dr James Allenby said goodbye to the Tavistock surgery where he has been a GP for the last 26 years. Dr Allenby said working at the Stannary Surgery had been a way of life and he would miss the staff and the patients. But with more time on his hands, the retiring doctor, who has just learned to ride, will be pursuing his hobbies, which include sailing, and plans to buy a campervan and go travelling with his wife Gill. ?The thing that makes me realise I have been here so long is that children I delivered are having babies of their own,? he said. ?It is very humbling being a GP ? people?s trust is unconditional and I feel very lucky to have worked in Tavistock where the people are lovely.? Dr Allenby, who said he would often come away from his home visits with pots of clotted cream and armfuls of cabbages, said he had particularly happy memories of working with the maternity hospital when it was open. ?In those days it was a 24-hour-a-day job ? there used to be two doctors and when one was away the other would be on call all day and all night. Things have changed and there are a lot more part-time doctors now. ?As a GP you experience moments of great happiness and times of great sadness but I have been fortunate to work in a surgery where everyone is so supportive and they have got me through difficult times.?