Alun Iorwerth Rhydderch was born in Dronfield, near Derby, in 1918, but in 1926 the family emigrated to Australia. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School, of which he was dux in 1935. He went to Sydney University where he graduated in medicine. After two years as resident medical officer at the Prince Alfred Hospital he joined the Australian Army Medical Corps and was in a field ambulance unit at the Borneo landing. After two years in general practice he came to England to study orthopaedic surgery. He was at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital from 1949 to 1951 and in May 1951 obtained the FRCS. He then returned to Australia and was appointed to the department of orthopaedics at the Sydney Hospital. He remained there all his professional life and became lecturer and senior orthopaedic surgeon. He was also on the staff of St Luke's Hospital, the Women's Hospital and the War Memorial Hospital, Waverley. He had developed an interest in the spinal column when in England and this remained throughout his life. He was one of the pioneers in spinal fusion. He was a member of the executive of the Australian Orthopaedic Association and also editorial secretary. He married Betty Warton in 1946 and they had a son and daughter. He died on 7 March 1974, aged 56 years.