For many within the NHS this week has been about celebrating 75 years of the health service.
But for one man 50 was the most important number as he retired after five decades, having worked at all three DGRIs.
Stephen Kirk, from Dumfries, was 16 when he left school and started working with the organisation as a grass cutter in 1973. On Friday, he officially retired on his 66th birthday.
He said: “I have worked in all three main hospitals and witnessed great change. I have made lifelong friends from work over the years.”
During his time with the NHS, he worked in the pharmacy and stores departments.
Friends and colleagues said he was always known for going the extra mile every day, and that no work task was ever a problem to him.
Last month, Stephen was presented with a special Sanquhar tartan sash from the Cornet’s Lass during the Guid Nychburris visit to DGRI.
On top of his work, he has volunteered with Guid Nychburris for the past 40 years.
Gillian Sturrock, lead procurement officer in pharmacy, said: “Stephen is not only a colleague but a good friend. He will be greatly missed, especially his nuggets of knowledge of working with the organisation for so long.”
Shirley Campbell, senior pharmacy technician, said: “Nothing is ever a problem to Stephen and he is always first to arrive in to work and always goes the extra mile.”
Former senior charge nurse John Little said: “I first met Stephen in 1975. I started working at the surgical stores in my Easter holiday and one could say that Stephen was my first mentor in the NHS.
“We delivered drugs to the wards, made up orders and unloaded deliveries.
“At that time there was great excitement as the new hospital was about to open and a brand-new pharmacy department to be commissioned.
“I remember standing with Stephen at the X-ray corridor as HM The Queen passed by on the official opening day, July 4, 1975.
“Everyone knows Stephen and when I met him on his rounds he always stopped for a chat and we would reminisce about the old place and he would tell me of his travels to New York to visit his brother.
