William Munby was born in North Shields on 22 May 1881 and received his medical education at Edinburgh University where he qualified in 1904. He became house surgeon to the Central London Ear Nose and Throat Hospital and senior house surgeon to the Cancer Hospital, Fulham Road. Later he held the appointment of resident aural officer at the General Infirmary, Leeds. He also studied at the London Hospital, Berlin and Vienna. When the first world war started he joined the RAMC and afterwards was appointed to Leeds General Infirmary in 1918, and became clinical lecturer in diseases of the ear, nose and throat there. He also served as otologist to the Ministry of Pensions and the Dewsbury District General Infirmary. He practised at 25 Park Square, Leeds. Munby retired in 1947 when he went to live at Lydney in the Forest of Dean, moving later to Wantage and finally returning to Leeds for the last years of his life. He was always considerate, careful and thorough in his work and was most successful with his patients and was affectionately known as "Buster". His recreations were gardening, music and the study of church architecture. He was also a skilled mechanic and craftsman who loved servicing his household equipment and his cars with his own hand; he was also an excellent cook. For many years he was President of the West Riding Branch of the graduates of Edinburgh University. He died in the General Infirmary, Leeds on 11 April 1968, aged 86, and was survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.