Idris William Adams was born at Tonyrefail, South Wales on 14 June 1940 the son of Philip Darwin Adams, a schoolmaster and Fiona Mary, née Jenkins, a headmistress. He was educated at Cowbridge Grammar School where he was head boy in 1958 before entering Charing Cross Hospital Medical School which he represented at rugby football. He qualified in 1965 and was house surgeon, casualty officer and anatomy demonstrator. His early career in general surgery was inspired by Trevor Tanner and in orthopaedic surgery by David Trevor. After undertaking further junior posts in Leicester and the United Arab Emirates he became interested in work in accident and emergency departments. He passed the FRCS in 1978 and shortly afterwards was appointed consultant in accident and emergency at Leighton Hospital, Crewe. After five years he successfully applied for a similar post at Withybush General Hospital, Haverfordwest. He served as Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Division of the British Medical Association and a member of the Welsh Consultants and Specialists Committee. His main hobbies were classical music, rugby and game shooting (accompanied by his spaniel Rufus). He died on 3 July 1990 aged 50 after a long illness and is survived by his wife Rosalie whom he married in 1972 and by their children, Michael, Hywell, Fiona, David and Philip.