THE death of Dr Fitz Gillespie last Sunday came as a sad shock to his family, the racing and equestrian worlds and the local community whom he had served as General Practitioner since taking over from his father in 1964. He had qualified six years earlier.

“I had supper outside with Dad on Saturday evening and he just slipped away overnight,” said son Patrick who, like his father, rode and trained. “He was always determined that in later life he would never to do three things which were to sleep downstairs, go around in a wheelchair or go to hospital – and he never did.”