Kenneth Panton Milne was born on 25 January 1924 in Aberdeen the youngest of five sons, four of whom became doctors. He was educated at Robert Gordon's College before entering the Aberdeen Medical School where he qualified in 1946. One year later he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and decided to take up ophthalmology as a specialty. He served in Japan, Austria, Malaysia and at the St John Hospital in Jerusalem. In 1974 he was appointed adviser in ophthalmology to the Army and Honorary Surgeon to Her Majesty the Queen. He retired with the rank of Brigadier in 1981. He was a keen fisherman at Bourley and on the river Cassley, and also a dedicated gardener producing seemingly endless displays of beautiful flowers and plants in his house and garden. His essential kindness, wide interests and impish humour made him a delightful companion and won him many close and loyal friends. In 1948 he married Kay Nerrie who shared in the happiness of their delightful home and survived him when he died after a protracted illness on 16 March 1984 aged 60 years.