HEARTFELT tributes to a nationally accomplished doctor raised in Barrow have poured in from a medical organisation after he lost his battle with cancer aged just 56.

Former Barrow Grammar schoolboy Geoffrey Hinchley will be honoured by the British Medical Association, which will re-name an auditorium after the former A&E consultant early next year. A commemorative plaque will also be mounted.

Doctor Chris Lacy was Mr Hinchley's deputy at the London School of Emergency Medicine.

She said: "He was a very good friend and it's such a sad loss.

"He gave a lot and he meant a lot to a lot of people.

"He was tremendously loved and made such a valued contribution."

A memorial will be held early next year for the doctor described as the "life and soul of the party" as well as the introduction of a new prize for trainee doctors submitting exceptional work.

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Mrs Lacy added: "We thought it would be a good idea to name the prize after Geoff because of his innovation.

"He will be very sadly missed in lots of ways and lots of trainees would not be where they are now without him.

"He always found a way to help and was a great support who knew how to make the difficult decisions."

Dr Hinchley worked across the UK in variety of roles.

His mother mother Margaret Hinchley said: "He loved what he did and went everywhere he could to gain experience. I just thought his story is such a great one to tell."

Dr Hinchley trained at Charing Cross hospital before accepting a job on board a luxury cruise ship.

Through this, the young doctor ended up in Beijing, caught up in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

"He was helping people but he was told to get out because the company he worked for didn't want anyone involved. He was quite upset by it all," added Mrs Hinchley.

He was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the end of 2013 but sadly lost his battle with the disease on July 3.

After a stem cell transplant and a course of proteasome inhibitor drugs it became clear that Geoff would not be able to fight off the disease.

During the final weeks of his life the family man returned home to the area with his partner of 26 years, Neville Walker.

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