A hospital ward was renamed in honour of the hospital's founder after his death earlier this year.

The Dr Bruce Ward at the BMI Hospital, Sunny Gardens Road, Hendon, was renamed in honour of Dr Arnold Bruce.

The hospital was officially opened in the 1960s by GP Dr Arnold Bruce and his wife, Sallie Bruce, as The Garden Clinic, before becoming The Garden Hospital and later, BMI Hendon.

Mrs Bruce and her family unveiled a plaque at the ward with the couple’s daughters, Philippa and Candida, their son, Duncan and their granddaughter, Beth.

Mrs Bruce said: “I am very proud to have been his wife and bear the name of a man who was dedicated to the care and treatment of his patients and the community he served.

“On behalf of all my family, I want to thank the BMI Hendon Hospital for showing such a high appreciation for Arnold’s life and his work.

“Renaming the hospital ward in his honour means his work will always be always remembered and I am sure Arnold would be smiling down on us as we all remembered him today.”