Peter Fenton, known to his colleagues as 'PF', was a consultant ophthalmologist in Portsmouth. He was born in Cranleigh, Surrey, the son of Edward Norman Fenton, a wing commander in the RAF, and Joan Wilfrida Fenton née Brown. He was educated at Radley, and then went on to read medicine at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, entering as a pre-clinical student. On qualifying, in 1959, he was appointed as a house surgeon to the eye department at St Thomas', under the supervision of Harold Ridley and John Winstanley. This early exposure convinced him that ophthalmology was to be his career. With Harold Ridley's support, PF was appointed to Moorfields Eye Hospital, which at that time was considered the gold standard for training in ophthalmology. While there he was greatly influenced by Lorimer Fison, the consultant in charge of the retinal detachment unit. On completion of his residency training, PF was appointed as a senior registrar. This was a joint post between Moorfields and St Thomas'. He became Lorimer Fison's chief assistant on the retinal detachment unit. By this time he was an accomplished retinal detachment surgeon whose expertise was widely acknowledged by his peers. At St Thomas' he was once again with Harold Ridley and John Winstanley, and the emphasis was on general ophthalmology with teaching responsibilities. Both Harold Ridley and Lorimer Fison urged PF to stay in London. A teaching hospital post with a Harley Street practice beckoned, but he felt the call of the country. In 1971 he was appointed to the eye department at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. This was an ideal post for PF; a four-consultant unit with training responsibilities, it provided the professional challenges of a major district general hospital, while at the same time being close to London. A big plus was that he and his family were able to live in the country yet close to the hospital. He had the perfect daily commute to work. A dextrous surgeon and shrewd clinician, PF practiced medicine to a very high ethical standard. His knowledge and experience were greatly valued by his colleagues and of course by innumerable patients who benefited from his skill and dedication to their care. His career spanned a period of enormous technological advancement in ophthalmic practice. He rose to the challenge and kept abreast with these developments. More importantly, he encouraged and facilitated change, allowing his junior colleagues free reign to modernise the eye services in Portsmouth. PF was an excellent trainer. His style of hands-off supervision allowed the trainees to grow in confidence and experience, with the knowledge that he would be there when required. Inexperienced senior house officers soon became competent surgeons under his tutelage. He used his out-patient clinics to teach the trainees, as well as visiting optometrists and medical students. Surprisingly for someone with a surgeon's temperament, PF developed an interest in psychosomatic eye diseases. He established a special clinic with a visiting consultant psychiatrist, Alexis Brook, who had a background in psychoanalysis and was funded by the Inman Trust. W S Inman had been a consultant ophthalmologist in Portsmouth many years before and had made his name in the field of psychosomatic eye diseases. PF enjoyed the cut and thrust of medical politics, serving as president of the Portsmouth division of the BMA from 1982 to 1983. He was also very active in hospital politics. His time as chairman of the medical executive committee coincided with the introduction of the Thatcher health reforms, which brought the purchaser-provider divide, fund holding and the drive for trust status by hospitals. This was time of huge change and tension. PF skilfully steered Portsmouth hospitals through these choppy waters. He retired in 1995. Country pursuits provided an antidote to the stresses of consultant practice. PF was a keen gardener, specialising in vegetables and sweet peas. He also kept bees. A stalwart supporter of the local hunt, he was rewarded for his pains by a blowout fracture of his orbit when coshed by a hunt saboteur. The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers played a very important part in his life. He became a freeman in 1958 and served as master from 1997 to 1998. He relished the traditions, pomp and ceremony provided by the livery companies. Above all PF will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and good humour. He was survived by his wife Amanda (née Simonds), whom he married in 1963, his son, Nicholas, and daughter, Vanessa. PF died after a short illness on 9 December 2011, aged 76.