PATIENTS at the Marlborough Medical Practice should not be surprised if they see Dr David Maurice wearing a dog collar when he is not in the surgery.

Father-of-three Dr David, who has been in the Marlborough practice for 21 years, was ordained as a deacon at Salisbury Cathedral on Sunday.

His ordination was tinged with sadness in the town, however, because the popular Rector of Marlborough, Henry Pearson, has announced that he will be moving to a new parish in Dorset shortly after Easter.

Rev Pearson, who has been rector of Marlborough for ten years, will be moving with his wife Judith to the Queen Thorne team of six parishes near Sherborne.

He said he is now 54 and having served in Marlborough for ten years, he and his wife felt it was the right time to move for what will probably be the last phase of his full time ministry before retirement.

From April Dr David will be the only member of his family left in the practice because his cousin, Dr Nick Maurice, is leaving to further his third world work and become the director of the One World Linking Association.

Dr David will become part time from April when he will take on Dr Nick's job-share position with Dr Pam Tulloch.

He said he would not be wearing a dog collar into work to avoid any confusion with patients.

But Dr David said he would be happy if patients wanted to discuss spiritual matters with him and he believed that spiritual faith played a part in the healing process.