Emanoel Lee, an identical twin, was born on 20 March 1933 in Johannesburg to Harry Lee, a consultant dermatologist, and his wife Zema, née Pencharz. He attended the Park Town High School in Johannesburg and proceeded to Witwatersrand Medical School from where he qualified in 1955. After junior appointments he came to England and trained in surgery at St George's Hospital, London where he was greatly influenced by Rodney Smith, Bryan Brooke and Victor Riddell. In 1968 he moved to Oxford where he was first assistant and later clinical reader in the Nuffield Department of Surgery. He was appointed consultant surgeon to the Oxford Health Authority in 1975. In the same year he was a Hunterian Professor. During his time in Oxford, Emanoel Lee built up a national and international reputation in the field of inflammatory bowel disease. He developed a method of removing the rectum by a perimuscular technique that eliminated damage to the pelvic nerves and permitted primary suture of the perineal wound. In Crohn's disease he was the first to develop strictureplasty, a technique which is now widely adopted. In addition to his gastroenterological interests he also established a breast clinic and wrote extensively on surgery of the carcinoid syndrome and the management of insulinomas. Of outgoing and genial personality he was an excellent teacher of the many undergraduates and postgraduates who flocked round him. He travelled widely, being a Visiting Professor in Baltimore, Cleveland and Malta. He was a member of the editorial board of *Gut*, the organiser of the Oxford gastroenterological course and Chairman of the Oxford Regional Medical Advisory Committee. In addition to these outstanding professional talents Emanoel Lee was also a gifted artist and historian. He painted in oils and pastels, his work being shown at several exhibitions; he was commissioned by St Cross College, Oxford, to paint a portrait of a major benefactor. He gave expert help to the Oxford Museum of Modern Art, being a member of its Council. He was also Chairman of the Arts Committee of the John Radcliffe Hospital. His history interests were particularly those regarding the history of South Africa and the Boer War, a subject on which he had published a book *To the bitter end*. He died suddenly on 25 January 1986 aged 52 and was survived by his devoted wife, Janine whom he had married in 1957, his two sons Rubin and Paul, his mother, his sister and his identical twin brother David who is also a surgeon.