John Parry Monkhouse was born on 18 December 1899. He did the medical course at St Mary's Hospital and qualified with the Conjoint Diploma in 1925, proceeding to the London degree the following year. After house appointments he soon began to specialize in otolaryngology, and after taking the FRCS in 1928 he was appointed to the staff of the Middlesex Hospital, and also to the Throat Hospital, Golden Square and the King Edward Memorial Hospital, Ealing. Though he always retained a proper affection for St Mary's, once he was appointed to the Middlesex that hospital became the chief element in his life and he devoted his characteristically meticulous attention to all its affairs. His interest in minute detail was shown in his hobby of watchmaking, and also in the real pleasure he derived from either repairing or devising new surgical instruments. It was also natural that he should have excelled in the microsurgery of the ear. He was elected president of the Section of Otology of the Royal Society of Medicine in 1960-61. He was a very hard worker and in spite of failing health he continued to work long hours in the theatre and outpatient department. His relaxations were golf and horticulture, chrysanthemums being his special interest. He had looked forward to enjoying more of these pastimes when he retired, but unfortunately a prolonged illness robbed him of these pleasures. He died on 28 December 1968, a few days after his 69th birthday, and his devoted wife and his daughter survived him.