A WELL-KNOWN Isle of Wight doctor, integral in establishing Shanklin Medical Centre, has died aged 93.

Kenneth Roland Kidd was born in Bath on October 2, 1927, and grew up in Bristol during the war years.

His father was an innovative headmaster and his mother was an accomplished pianist.

Dr Kidd studied at Bristol University, and became a GP in 1951. He represented the university in rugby and athletics.

He completed national service in 1953 as a Surgeon Lieutenant with the Royal Navy Reserve Fleet, Clyde, Scotland ­— a place where he developed his love for sailing.

Dr Kidd then spent several years in Somerset hospitals gaining valuable experience in A&E, obstetrics and gynaecology, initially as a resident medical officer and latterly as senior house officer.

He moved to the Island in 1956, working as a general practitioner in Shanklin.

He came to understand that as a family doctor, he was constantly available to help people, into life, through life and out of life. At one point his patient list comprised 3,500 people.

Dr Kidd was the leading doctor to help create, design and establish Shanklin Medical Centre in Carter Street in 1968, and formed a partnership with other Shanklin GPs.

Before this time, patients would go to the doctor’s house where they would be seen in a surgery annexe.

From 1980, Dr Kidd was part of a specialist team of GPs from many Western countries invited to work and establish new medical practices at all levels, including primary and emergency care in Saudi Arabia.

Positions he held until his retirement in 1993 included chief of clinics and emergency services at King Fahad Military Hospital, Jeddah, tutor in primary care at Military Hospital, Riyadh, and senior primary care physician at Military Hospital, Khamis Mushayt.

He experienced many advancements in the world of medicine during his approximate 50 years of service.

Dr Kidd brought his first yacht in 1957, and spent many weekends thereafter cruising in the Solent, and dinghy racing off Shanklin.

His most exciting sailing experience was as a medical officer on the 200ft training three-masted schooner, Malcolm Miller, under full sail in a gale.

The most enjoyable was cruising along the French canals during his retirement years.

He had the pleasure of owning different yachts and boats until he was 85 years of age.

Dr Kidd loved music and was a self-taught flautist, playing in two orchestras. He also played the keyboard, clarinet and saxophone.

He died on April 7, survived by his wife June, three sons, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A private funeral service was held in Poole.