Simon Cox was a sportsman, countryman, conversationalist and *bon viveur*, as well as a surgeon. He was the life and soul of any party and was known for his sunny personality, *joie de vivre* and compassion for patients. Born in Malaya, where his father died as a prisoner of war in Changi prison, Simon escaped with his mother back to England and settled in west Mersey. He attended Christ's Hospital School, where he excelled, both academically and in sport. He trained in medicine at St Thomas' Hospital Medical School, qualifying in 1965. As a student he played rugby, squash, croquet and the violin. He also rowed and sailed. His first house officer post was to John B Kinmonth on the surgical unit, and he then went to Watford General Hospital as house physician to Sir John Richardson. A demonstratorship in anatomy back at St Thomas' led to success in the primary fellowship, following which he was appointed registrar to Gordon Loosemore, again at Watford. After passing the final fellowship in 1970, he was appointed as a senior registrar on the St Thomas' circuit, working variously in Kingston Hospital, St Helier Hospital, Carshalton and St Thomas'. He received an all-round general surgical training, but had special experience in peripheral vascular surgery, a subspecialty which he developed at Watford, where he was appointed consultant in 1976. He developed a keen interest in country pursuits and was a frequent visitor to the Scottish highlands, a part of the country which he loved and where he developed a keen appreciation of the various malts. He continued his sailing interest and in 1979 sailed to Rio de Janeiro flying back home by Concorde - he said he didn't wish to be late for his clinic! He took up skiing at the age of 40 and became hugely proficient. Noted for a succession of fast sports cars, he also loved Formula 1 racing and was for a time a track doctor at Silverstone. He retired early at the age of 56 to live in Scotland on the banks of the Findhorn, a river which he had fished for many years. For several years he commuted to see private patients with breast disease at Bushey BUPA Hospital, but in 2003 he retired completely so that he could walk his labradors and his west highland terriers across the moor on a daily basis and devote himself to his beloved country life. In 1966 he married a St Thomas' nurse, Ruth Startin, and they had three children - Hermione, Richard and Nicola. They later divorced and he married for a second time, to Julie. He died in October 2009 of pancreatic cancer, a disease which he bore with fortitude.