Bintcliffe was the son of Dr John William Bintcliffe of London, and was educated at Berkhamstead School and afterwards trained at St Bartholomew's Hospital, qualifying in 1934. After a short spell in general practice he returned to Bart's to work for his Fellowship which he obtained in 1936. He then decided to specialise as an orthopaedic surgeon and was registrar at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital for two years. At the outbreak of war he was retained in the EMS, but later served in the RAMC with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and saw action in Italy and Austria, for which he was awarded the MBE. Bintcliffe returned to civilian life in 1949 and was soon appointed consultant orthopaedic surgeon to the Hastings group of hospitals and to the Kent and Sussex Hospital at Tunbridge Wells. He took great interest in all branches of his specialty, but especially in reconstructive work; although continuing at work long into the evenings and at week-ends he always remained patient and cheerful. In 1940 he married Beatrice Mary, elder daughter of George Lewis, DL, JP, and his wife was later appointed a JP. Although Bintcliffe had little leisure, he was a keen motorist and as a young man had driven at Brooklands and was a member of the British Automobile Racing Club and the Institute of Advanced Motorists. He was also a keen skier both on the mountains and on the water, and many of his holidays were spent in his own boat. He was an active Mason. Eric Bintcliffe died at the height of his career after a long illness on 12 April 1969, survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. The funeral service was held at St Mark's Church, Little Common. Publications: Delayed closure of compound fracture wounds. *Postgrad med J* 1945, NS21, 338. Functional reconstruction of the thumb. *Surg Gynec Obstet* 1946, 83, 807. Mesenteric vascular occlusion. *Brit med J* 1947, 1, 50.