Hundreds say goodbye to much-loved Wolverhampton doctor
Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects at the funeral of a beloved Black Country doctor and devoted member of the Wolverhampton Buddhist community.
Dr Chaman Lal, who lived in Penn and ran Bradley Medical Centre in Bilston for more than 20 years, died on December 22 following a three-year cancer battle.
And on Friday, family, friends, colleagues, patients and dignitaries – including current and former Wolverhampton MPs Pat McFadden and Rob Marris – turned out in their hundreds to say their final goodbyes to Dr Lal at Bushbury Crematorium, followed by a lunch served at the Buddhist Temple, in Upper Zoar Street.
Dr Lal was born in India in August 1953 and moved to Wolverhampton at the age of 14, attending the local Graiseley School. He went on to study medicine at Birmingham University, completing his training at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Having qualified as a doctor in 1978, specialising in general practice, Dr Lal worked in and around Wolverhampton, eventually opening up his own practice, Bradley Medical Centre, in 1995. He worked there until his death in 2018.
Dr Lal was a prominent member of the Buddhist community in Wolverhampton, and worked tirelessly to organise conferences with esteemed leaders in India. A proud moment for his family, he once organised for Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the former Prime Minister of India to come to Wolverhampton and speak to the community, with the help of Scotland Yard.
'Loved by everyone'
His son Rishi said: "Dad was a doctor for the past 40 years in and around Wolverhampton and set up his own practice in Bradley in 1995. He did a lot for his community and he did a lot for the Buddhist community in Wolverhampton.
"He was just loved by everyone in the community. We have had so many people visit the house just because of dad, wanting to pay their respects because of how he helped everyone. He once raised £30,000 for the Tsunami in Indonesia – that was just one day when the people of Bradley came together to do a walk.
"He was the most amazing father anyone could have asked for. Him and mum raised us just to be good people, be kind, treat everyone equally and respect everyone.
"Dad was just caring and very humble. As long as he made a difference to people that's all he cared about. We have had so many cards from patients – he was missed and loved."
Cancer
Dr Lal was married to his wife of 40 years Kamlesh Maman, who worked as a practice nurse. The couple had three children, daughter Ramneek and two sons Rahul and Rishi.
He died on December 22 peacefully and surrounded by family. He was diagnosed with primary breast cancer in November 2015, and then un-related primary colon cancer in November 2016. He went through a total of 24 chemotherapies, 16 radiotherapies and five operations in the last three years, but his family said he never gave up hope.
Rishi added: "There was such a large turn-out for dad. It was a great send-off for him. Everyone who wanted to had their chance to pay their respects to dad. There were a few hundred people having to stand outside the chapel.
"The service started with some blessings and prayers from Buddhist monks. This was followed by some speeches by close friends and family members. My siblings and I then sent dad off away on his last journey.
"Everyone came and paid their respects to dad at the house on Friday morning, with small cards and letters for dad.
"It showed dad meant a lot to people – it was a great send-off for him."
