Walton Howarth Bremner was born on 28 March 1902, the son of J R Bremner of Dunedin. After attending the Otago Boys' High School and Otago Medical School, Dunedin, he graduated MB ChB in 1923, coming to Christchurch as a house surgeon the following year. In 1926 he went overseas and later married Dr Gladys Macalister of Invercargill. They visited Britain and Europe, and Bremner obtained his FRCS in 1927 at the age of 25. He returned to join the surgical staff of the Christchurch Hospital in 1931, becoming a member of its senior staff five years later. He was Director of Surgery in June 1960, till his retirement in June 1962. Bremner was Chairman of the Medical Staff and of the Medical Advisory Committee in 1959 and 1960, giving much time to the welfare of the staff and to advising the Board on the internal running of the hospital. As a surgeon of the Christchurch Hospital he contributed more towards the maintenance and improvement of the standard of surgery there than any other member of its staff. He pioneered practically all advances in surgical techniques and methods for more than thirty years. At the same time he shared his experiences with others on the staff and enabled them to benefit from his knowledge and ability. This was his method of teaching his junior colleagues and it was an experience much appreciated by all who availed themselves of the opportunity. He was also an excellent teacher at the undergraduate level, from his wide knowledge and orderly mind. As a counsellor he was at his best. There can be few of his juniors who did not seek his advice at one time or another. His opinion was always given, after due consideration of the problem, in a forthright manner which left no doubt of what he really thought, but with complete sincerity. After his retirement from the hospital he maintained a keen interest in its welfare, while he continued his active professional work in private. He was a friend, adviser and most stimulating colleague to all who knew him and worked with him. His outside interests were in gardening and history, but these were very secondary to his intense interest in his work. He died suddenly at 27 Mansfield Avenue, Christchurch on 29 May 1965 aged 63.