Tribute has been paid to a renowned and long-serving consultant who treated hundreds of patients in northern Lincolnshire and Hull areas.
Dr Garry Gregory was a maxillofacial surgeon at Scunthorpe General Hospital, Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill hospitals. He died last month at home, as he had wished, after a short illness, aged 77 years.
Colleagues and patients paid tribute to the “brilliant, loyal and enthusiastic” surgeon whose mission was “service to his community.”
Many attended a service in Scunthorpe where the guitar music, Cavatina from the film The Deer Hunter, was played. Dr Gregory had treated injured servicemen from The Vietnam War when he was serving with the Royal Australian Navy at an Australian base.
He was later buried at Brigg Cemetery. His wife Kathryn said: “He was a very special man, a very brilliant man. He was always well-thought of by colleagues and patients.” She added: “He was honest and kind and loved his work and saw the good in everybody.”
They met in 2003. Dr Gregory had become dual-trained in dentistry and surgery. He won a scholarship in Australia and was one of 10 out of 18,000 applicants to gain the award so he could study at university. He also served with the Australian navy which led to him treating servicemen injured in The Vietnam War, which lasted from 1955 to 1975.
He came to London in 1974 on leaving the Navy, with his fellow dentistry friends and enjoyed London. He spent time between the UK and Australia before deciding he wanted to do Maxillofacial surgery and was accepted to Melbourne University for his Medical degree, qualifying in 1981.
Dr Gregory returned to work in London again in the early 90’s working in oral surgery completing his fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1996. He worked as a consultant from 1998 until 2019 in the Humberside Consortium of hospitals, predominantly Scunthorpe, where he worked for many years as a single-handed practitioner.
Kathryn said: “He cared for his patients and the staff around him, forming close relationships in his team and a family, like community. He loved to mentor new clinicians and was passionate about passing his knowledge along. Garry loved cars, motorbikes, his boat, learning, reading and always loved a project. He loved his cats.”
Kathryn added: “He was dedicated to his work. We all knew he was intelligent. He wore it lightly and was always approachable and very matter of fact. He was always generous and wanting to help others. He was a force of nature.”
She said his catchphrase in his distinctive Australian accent was how he “fixed people up.” He also had a passion for teaching others.
The couple married in 2013. He is father to Frances and stepfather to Evan and grandfather to Haydn and Ffion. He is brother to Peter and John in Australia. Dr Gregory retired in 2019. He had spearheaded the fund raising for CO2 laser equipment at Scunthorpe General Hospital.
Dr Nasser Nasser told how he knew him since 1990 when they both worked at London hospitals. The doctor said: “He was forthright, honest and never held back. He became a doctor because he wanted to serve and did that above and beyond. It was a pleasure to support him. He was always someone you could rely upon due to his loyalty, enthusiasm and care for patients.
“I have never met anyone like him. We never lost touch since working together at Barnet. He would always come and help me. It was an honour to be his friend.”
At his funeral a Subaru WRX led the procession and one followed behind in tribute to his love of cars. Donations were received in lieu of flowers in aid of ‘The Health Tree Foundation’ – MaxilloFacial Department’ c/o Jason Threadgold Funeral Director 19-21 Old Courts Road Brigg, North Lincs DN20 8JD.