Welshman Dr Rees was heavily involved in the community in his adopted town, particularly Wivey Rugby Club. He moved to the town with his wife Barbara in 1969 to work in the GP practice, becoming senior partner following the retirement of his friend Dr David Watson. Dr Rees was instrumental in moving the surgery to Lister House, in Bolloms Mead, as the town’s population and practice grew. After he retired from general practice, he continued to work for the NHS up until last year in the capacity of a war pension medical assessor. The role brought him into contact with many veterans and he took great interest in their stories and offered great support.
SCORES of young people have created a shrine at a beauty spot in memory of their friend who lived to make others happy. Sam Loader, 20, from Fitzhead, died suddenly at Lydeard Hill, on the Quantock Hills, a place he loved, on New Year s Eve. His distraught father Ian said he, his wife Jill and daughter Kathryn have been touched by the sheer volume of tribute messages they have received. His friends say they are going to miss him dreadfully, said Mr Loader. They say how he just cared for other people. He had so much time for other people. We just wish he d found the time to talk about his own problems.