Alexander Leonard Black was born in Liverpool on 7 November 1914, the son of Alexander Black and Gertrude (née Beardwood). He was educated at Bootle Grammar School and Liverpool University Medical School, qualifying in 1938. While he was doing house appointments the second world war was declared and he immediately volunteered for active service in the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving as regimental medical officer for six years. He participated in the Normandy landings and served with the 49th Infantry Division throughout the campaign in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. After the war he resumed his career in the Liverpool Hospitals and also continued in the Territorial Army with the Liverpool Scottish for a number of years. He passed the FRCS Edinburgh in 1947 and the FRCS England five years later. During the post-war years he served as resident surgical officer at Wallasey and was later appointed senior registrar to the United Liverpool Hospitals. He joined the consultant staff at Rotherham and Mexborough in 1962 where he remained until retiring in 1980. Apart from his interest in the instruction and postgraduate education of junior staff he was an enthusiast for learning foreign languages and foreign travel. He married Dr Jeanie Gordon in 1949 and she was practising with the Rotherham community health service when he died on 18 March 1987 survived by her and their two daughters Fiona and Melanie.