Norman Ernest Pitt was born in Worthing on 25 November 1904, the son of Thomas William Pitt, an army officer, and his wife, Naomi. He was educated at Brighton Grammar School and studied medicine at Guy's Hospital Medical School where he obtained an honours BSc in physiology before qualifying in 1928. After house appointments at Guy's and further junior appointments at Southend and Woking he passed the FRCS in 1936 and became surgical registrar at Guy's Hospital. His initial surgeon's post was at Kingston County Hospital and in 1941 he was appointed superintendent of Redhill County Hospital and senior surgeon. His interests were general and he acquired a high reputation for surgical expertise in addition to his administrative duties. When the National Health Service was introduced he became consultant surgeon but continued with administrative work until around 1955. He had a large private practice and in 1961 established the Southern Clinic with its own operating theatre close to his home. Although he retired from hospital work in 1969 he continued to admit patients to his clinic until 1986 and performed over 12,000 operations there. In addition to his professional work he was a committed Christian, an enthusiastic gardener and photographer, and an eminent Freemason. His cheerful sociable manner made him popular with professional colleagues and patients. He died on 8 August 1987 and is survived by his wife Emily, a Guy's nurse, and five children, two of whom are doctors (one a surgeon) and three trained as nurses.