Charles Taylor was born at Motherwell, Lanarkshire on 13 June 1905, and was educated at Glasgow University where he graduated MB ChB in 1928. He went into general practice in Coventry, and, developing a special interest in ophthalmology, obtained the DOMS in 1934 and worked as a clinical assistant at the Coventry and Warwick Hospital. In 1939 he joined the army and served throughout as an ophthalmologist, much of the time in the Western Desert. Returning to Coventry after the war he abandoned general practice and concentrated on ophthalmology. He therefore came to London, worked for and took the Primary examination in 1949 and passed the FRCS in ophthalmology, having obtained the necessary training at the Royal Eye Hospital and St Thomas's. In taking this somewhat courageous course of action, at the age of 40 and after 10 years in general practice and 5 years in the army, he was greatly encouraged and assisted by his wife Dorothy. Ultimately in 1950 he was appointed consultant in ophthalmology to the Shrewsbury and Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Groups, where his skill and his stimulating personality were greatly valued, and he worked there till he retired in 1970. He was fond of sailing and climbing, and it was unfortunate that ill health interfered with his full enjoyment of his short retirement, for he died on 30 May 1973 at the age of 66.