A Ledbury pensioner is grateful to a Gloucester clinic for very speedy and successful cataract surgery, because it meant he could hang on to his Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) licence for his part-time job as a tanker driver.

The successful and free surgery also meant he could continue to indulge his love for classic motors.

Classic car expert, Peter Bond-Smith, aged 81, was treated for his cataract within three weeks of referral, something which he really appreciated for a number of reasons, not least the fact that he wanted to hold on to his HGV licence.

He is also a retired motor-engineer, car and lorry accident repair specialist and skilled paint sprayer – and has raced all over Europe, including at Silverstone.

Mr Bond-Smith said he still has "a passion for classic cars", for which he needs his eyesight "to stay in tip-top condition".

He said: When any of us need medical treatment, we want it to happen quickly so that we can carry on doing the things that we love with as little interruption as possible.

"So when I found out that I needed a cataract operation, I was delighted to find out that there was somewhere locally that could deal with it fast, at no cost to me – Newmedica in Gloucester, which has just celebrated its second birthday in the city.

Mr Bond-Smith added: "When my optician told me that I had a cataract and should think about having it removed, I was not looking forward to the prospect at all.

"Then, while working on a car the following day, I had a chance encounter with a woman who had recently had a cataract removed at the Newmedica clinic in Gloucester.

"She was so delighted by the service she had received and the speed of her treatment that I felt far more comfortable about having it done – and asked my optician to refer me to them right away.

"Newmedica is one of the leading providers of NHS-funded ophthalmology services in England. To be treated so fast was amazing, especially as a friend had waited almost a year to have one removed elsewhere, and the clinic was great too.

"I felt really confident after my assessment, and was impressed by the professionalism of the staff. I received a friendly and professional service from start to finish. It might seem strange to say that an operation was a good experience, but it really was."