David Roux graduated at the University of Pretoria in 1949 and shortly after started his training in orthopaedics working mainly at the Johannesburg General Hospital under the guidance of Professors J M Edelstein and G T du Toit. He made a short visit to London in 1955 during which he passed the primary and final FRCS within a few months. Later he spent a year at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York where he worked for Dr John Cobb whose special interest was in scoliosis and neurofibromatosis spinal deformities. On his return to South Africa he established the first scoliosis unit in the Transvaal where he dealt with the problems arising from tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and congenital abnormalities. His workload was legendary but he still found time for research and teaching. As a surgeon, despite the absence of his right middle finger, he was the most dextrous, accurate and precise technician. Apart from his work he excelled in big-game hunting (his bag included a polar bear in Alaska!), nature conservation, endurance motorcar racing, deep sea fishing and he was a yachtsman of renown, eventually sailing his own yacht to Britain. His last few years were spent in rapidly declining health and he died on 19 December 1987, survived by his wife, Carole, and their children.