For more than four decades Joseph “Paddy” Woolf was the first port of call for thousands of patients, from sick children to pregnant mothers.

He delivered scores of children and tended to hundreds during the course of his distinguished medical career, but even after retirement he remembered every one of them.

The popular and widely respected general practitioner, who arrived in Bermuda in the mid-1950s, passed away at the end of last month at the age of 87.

Colleagues and friends were quick to praise Dr Woolf’s caring disposition and exceptional ability. Dr Robbie Martin, who took over Dr Woolf’s practice on Point Finger Road in 1998, described him as an “incredibly popular man”.

“His patients loved him and his demeanour was always caring and considerate,” he said. “He must have delivered half the babies on the Island at one point, and even after he retired he was able to remember every one of them.

“Many of my patients would say they had bumped into Dr Woolf after his retirement in the shops or in town, and they were always surprised to see that he remembered who they were.

“Paddy was a private person; quiet, but a lot of fun. He loved golf and had a passion for orchids.

“He will be sorely missed by all the mothers whose children he delivered, as well as the children themselves who are now having children. His work spanned more than three generations.”

Dr Woolf came to Bermuda in the mid-1950s with the Royal Army Medical Corps after graduating from university in Northern Ireland having studied medicine.

He completed his two-year national service and went on to work for the public health department before starting a family and setting up his own practice.

Gordon Black, a fellow doctor, first met Dr Woolf when he arrived in Bermuda in 1957 to work at the hospital.

“A good GP needs what are called the three As; he needs to be available, affable and able,” Dr Black said. “Paddy had all three of these virtues in good measure.

“He went into general practice in the days before all the medical specialists we have today. He worked as a GP from 7am to 7pm, and then would deliver babies during the night.

“He was always extremely busy. He was very able and well qualified. His pleasant, friendly personality made him very popular with his patients.”

Bill Cook, another doctor who also worked with Dr Woolf for many years, added: “Paddy was a very genuine and sincere man. In the workplace he was always pleasant, quiet and unassuming.”