Family pays tribute to much-loved Sunderland doctor who cared for patients for nearly 20 years

Sashi Sekhar worked at Westbourne Surgery (now Westbourne Medical Group) in Shiney Row for 19 years, after moving to the area for the job in 1973.

The much-loved GP was born in India and worked there as a doctor before starting his new life in the UK in 1968.

He then spent a year working at a hospital in Scotland, two years working in Norfolk and then moved to Harrogate where he worked as a rheumatology registrar.

Sashi Sekhar worked at Westbourn Surgery in Shiney Row for 19 years.

After deciding to become and GP, Sashi decided to take a job in Sunderland, and moved to the city along with wife Pam.

The pair had met in 1971 when Pam was working as a nurse in Harrogate Royal Hospital and the pair married in 1973.

Just one month later, Sashi started his new job at Westbourne Surgery, where he spent his entire career, before retiring in 1992 with ill health.

The popular doctor sadly died on Saturday, November 23, aged 84, but his legacy lives on in the patients he cared for.

Sashi with his grandchildren Amber and Freya Sekhar.

Wife Pam, 67, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the amount of cards coming in saying how he was such a lovely man.

“He was so caring and worked so hard throughout his career.

“He would work 12 hour days from 8am to 8pm and in his early years as a GP was known to do up to 10 house calls a day.

“Working as GP was something that he really wanted to do and he had interviews up and down the country before getting the job in Sunderland and settling down there.”

Sashi with grandchildren Rohan and Miya Sekhar.

A family man, Sashi raised his three sons – Chad, 45, Arun, 42, Kiren, 37, along with wife Pam at their home in Herrington. He also has four grandchildren.

Paying tribute to her husband, Pam continued: “He was a very popular doctor and cared for the same patients for many years.

“He worked hard but was always there for his family and would spend weekends with the boys when they were young taking them on days out to the likes of Hamsterley Forest.”

Sashi’s funeral service will be held at Sunderland Crematorium on Chester Road on Friday, December 13, at 1pm.

Instead of flowers the family is asking for donations to be made to St Benedict’s Hospice.