Munro Black was born on 23 January 1909 in Harton, County Durham, the son of Ernest Black, a clothier and amateur artist. He was educated at South Shields High School and Durham University Medical School, graduating with honours in 1931 and being awarded the Philipson Scholarship for the best marks in the final MB. His early appointments included that of house surgeon to Professor Grey Turner and after passing the FRCS in 1935 he became surgical registrar at the Royal Victoria Infirmarv. Two years later he was appointed consultant in ear, nose and throat surgery to the hospital and in 1938 was a Hunterian Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons, delivering a lecture on lymphoepitheliomata. During the war he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and after initial posting to the Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot, was later sent to India where he became ear, nose and throat adviser to the Southern Army in Bangalore. After demobilisation he returned to the Royal Victoria Infirmary and developed a special interest in naso-pharyngeal tumours, tympanic body tumours and the treatment of acute mastoiditis in children with penicillin. He was President of the Newcastle and Northern Counties Medical Society in 1971 and of the Section of Laryngology of the Royal Society of Medicine in 1972-1973. He was a founder member of the British Association of Otolaryngologists and served on the Council of the Association. He was also adviser in ENT to the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board. In addition to his professional achievements he took an active interest in sporting activities. During his student years he represented Durham University at hockey and was also president of Durham University Athletic Union. In later years he took a great interest in golf and was captain of Bamburgh Castle Golf Club from 1959 to 1961 and of Northumberland Golf Club in 1963. He retired from consultant practice in 1974 but continued his sporting interests serving as vice-president of Bamburgh Golf Club from 1976 until his death on 12 April 1989. In 1939 he married Kathleen Raynor who predeceased him in 1984. They had two sons; Martin who is a consultant dermatologist and Michael, a consultant plastic surgeon. Their daughter, Susan, is consultant in management to the National Health Service.