Born at Heavitree, Exeter, South Devon on 10 September 1854, the eldest child and only son of Charles Burn Pickering, clerk in the Commercial Union Assurance office at Exeter, and his wife Louisa Cooke of Bideford, North Devon. He was educated at Parker Wells, Exeter, and afterwards went to Guy's Hospital, where he served as house physician and resident obstetric officer. During 1878-80 he was house surgeon at the Bristol General Hospital, and from 11 January 1882 until his resignation in December 1901 he acted as surgeon to the charity. He was also lecturer on operative surgery at University College, Bristol. On 17 October 1883 he married Kate Wall, of Redland Lodge, Redland, Bristol, the daughter of a wealthy Bristol haulage contractor. She died on 14 October 1920, but there were no children. He died on 30 May 1939, having retired from practice many years previously, at 13 Berkeley Square, Bristol, and was buried at Canford cemetery, Westbury-on-Trym.