HUNDREDS of friends and former work colleagues are expected to join the family of a popular and much-respected doctor at a special thanksgiving in his memory.

Dr Sadru Jivani, who died last month, was a senior consultant paediatrician at Blackburn's Queen's Park Hospital. He had lived and worked in Blackburn for more than 22 years.

Dr Jivani was so popular and respected that colleagues decided to organise a memorial get-together after he died following a long illness, aged 62.

The event, which will be attended by up to 400 people, will be held at Accrington Town Hall on Sunday, September 7, at 3pm.

Family and colleagues will speak at the event, which will also include music.

Dr Chris Fossard, who is helping to organise the get-together, said: "I imagine there will be quite a few former patients who will want to come but the number has been limited to 400."

Dr Jivani, who lived on Mellor Brow, Mellor, with his wife Janet, also left two sons and a daughter.

He was instrumental in the special care baby unit development at Queen's Park and brought the hospital's paediatric and neo-natal services in line with national standards.

He also specialised in diabetes and was president of the Blackburn Children's Diabetic Group for ten years.

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