Geoffrey James Lillie was born on 5 December 1902 at Launceston, Tasmania, in the Tamar valley and by chance settled later in a small Devon village close to the English Tamar valley. His father, James Lillie, was an insurance manager and his mother Louise Ursula Lillie (née McEachern) was the daughter of a merchant. After education at Scotch College, Melbourne, and Ormond College in the University of Melbourne he graduated in 1925. His early resident appointments were at the Prince Alfred Hospital, the Children's Hospital and the Women's Hospital in Melbourne. In 1932 he came to England and was house surgeon at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, before completing the FRCS in 1933. He then went to the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital at Exeter, where the Devonian Association for Cripples' Aid had been established a few years earlier. After serving as resident surgical officer, he became assistant surgeon and was the second orthopaedic surgeon to be appointed in Devon, one of a small band of pioneers who were most versatile and had acquired related skills in radiography, pharmacy and anaesthesia. During the second world war he joined the RAMC and was first posted in 1942 to Queen Alexandra Military Hospital in London; eighteen months later he went to central India where he served as orthopaedic specialist and became officer-in-charge of a surgical division with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. On demobilization in 1945 he returned to Exeter and was then appointed to the Mount Gould Orthopaedic Hospital, Plymouth. He developed a special interest in cerebral palsy and was honorary surgeon to the Dame Hannah Rogers School at Ivybridge. An honest, kindly and compassionate man, he was especially skilled in dealing with children. He was an excellent clinician and a skilful, yet careful surgeon who distrusted hasty operating. He was an enthusiastic teacher and much enjoyed dealing with the younger doctors, gaining their friendship and instilling a sense of loyalty and integrity. Lillie served on the executive committee of the British Orthopaedic Association and on his hospital management committee. He helped to found the Friends of Mount Gould and the South-West Orthopaedic Club whose first meeting he chaired in 1948. He was a keen traveller around the world, especially to his native Australia, planning each itinerary with great care so that he could visit as many old trainees as possible. He never married but was fond of children and devoted much of his time and skill to their care. A good tennis player in his younger days, he was also a keen golfer and played well into his retirement when his great love was his garden. He died on 30 October 1982 at Derrisford Hospital, aged 79.