George Derek Officer was a Lancastrian by birth, but later went to King's School, Macclesfield, where he became captain of the school and captain of rugby. In 1955 he graduated in medicine at Birmingham University with honours in obstetrics and gynaecology. From 1956-1958, during his national service, he served with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at York Military Hospital. After house jobs in the United Birmingham Hospitals, he became a temporary lecturer in anatomy at the Birmingham Medical School and then served at the Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton, where he was surgical registrar. His interests, however, brought him to radiology and he began his training in September 1962 at the United Birmingham Hospitals, becoming a registrar in 1963 and a senior registrar in 1966. At the end of that year he was appointed consultant radiologist to Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada, where he gained valuable experience, especially in the field of diagnostic radiology relating to radiotherapy and oncology. His interest in lymphography resulted in a joint paper in *Clinical radiology*. He returned from Canada in 1967 and joined the staff of Dudley Road Hospital at a time when the department was expanding rapidly. He played an important part in the introduction of many of the newer techniques, including a lymphography service, as well as teaching. Many registrars studying for the Fellowship or Membership benefited from his evening tutorials; so too radiographers studying for their qualifications. His interest in teaching extended beyond the department and he was invited to take part in postgraduate courses. Later he was elected to the medical executive committee. He was also interested in the work of the Hospital Consultants' and Specialists' Association and was indefatigable in his efforts to rouse consultant opinion at a vital period. He and his wife, Jane, had one son and daughter. He died on 15 March 1976, aged 45 years.