He was born on 26 July 1879 at Preston son of Alex C Rayner MRCS (1874) who was in general practice there. Educated at Preston Grammar School, he graduated from the Manchester Medical School in 1901, and held resident posts at Preston Royal Infirmary and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. He took the Fellowship in 1907. He was appointed assistant surgeon to the Manchester Royal Infirmary in 1911 and was later surgeon, retiring in 1945. During the first world war he served as a Captain RAMC in the 67th General Hospital at Marseilles. After retiring he lived for some years in Anglesey, but returned to the Manchester district about 1955 and died at 2 Higher Downs, Altrincham, Cheshire on 19 January 1960 aged 80, survived by his wife with their son and four daughters. He was a clear, incisive and humorous teacher, a careful operator, and a wise consultant with a very large private practice at 14 St John Street, Manchester. His clear-thinking critical mind and diagnostic skill greatly impressed his colleagues and students. He was an occasional contributor to the professional journals and his articles all added to his reputation. Publications: Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by the injection of alcohol into the Gasserian ganglion. *Brit J Surg* 1920, 7, 516. Treatment of acute appendicitis, *Brit J Surg* 1942, 29, 346.