Born 30 October 1904, the son of Joseph Edward Bowes MB, of Keswick, Cumberland, who survived him, Kenneth Bowes was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, where his father was in practice. At the University of Liverpool he studied medicine and was awarded the Holt fellowship in physiology in 1928. He was gold medallist in obstetrics and gynaecology. In 1929 he obtained the MB ChB with first-class honours and the MB BS London, also with honours. After qualifying Bowes held resident appointments at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, and in 1931 was appointed surgical registrar at St Thomas's Hospital, London. He was admitted FRCS in 1931, and proceeded to MS London in 1932 and MD in 1935. He decided to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology, and after holding resident posts in that department at St Thomas's Hospital he finally became consultant surgeon there. He was also a demonstrator of anatomy and Louis Jenner research scholar. He was surgeon to the Grosvenor Hospital for Women and a consultant gynaecologist to the South-Western Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. Bowes was an external examiner for the University of Glasgow and also examined in obstetrics and gynaecology for the Conjoint Board and the University of London. In 1949 he was Arris and Gale lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons; his subject was the superficial veins in the female, and he illustrated his lecture with infrared photographs. In 1955 he was elected FRCOG. He married Phyllis, daughter of Ernest W Miller of Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1933, who survived him with one son. He lived at Guildford, with consulting rooms in Vincent Square, Westminster and he died on 1 February 1958 in St Thomas's Hospital, aged 53. Kenneth Bowes was a quiet, unassuming man, of encyclopaedic knowledge and prodigious memory, which served him well as editor of *Modern Trends in Obstetrics and Gynaecology*. Bowes had little interest in games or sport, and gardening was his chief relaxation. He was held in great affection by all who knew him.