Eliasz Zwiefach (Elek or Alek to his friends) was born in 1910 and after gaining the diploma in medicine in 1936 proceeded to the degree of MD two years later. He had started to practise otorhinolaryngology before the war, but shortly after its outbreak was taken prisoner by the Russian Army and spent three years as otolaryngologist in a Siberian prison camp. He was then permitted to move to the West in order to serve with the Polish under General Anders and led a party of compatriots through Russia and Persia in order to enlist. He served in the Middle East, Egypt and Italy before being demobilised and his distinguished war-time service was recognised by the award of the Silver Cross of Merit with swords. At the end of the war he decided to settle in England as both his parents and his two brothers had died. He was appointed house surgeon and later registrar at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital and subsequently was research assistant at the Institute of Laryngology at the University of London. In 1953 he was appointed consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at the West Middlesex Hospital where he devoted his energies to the skilful care of his patients and to building up the department. He was an enthusiastic teacher of students and junior staff. He retired from practice in 1975 but continued to live in London. In 1955 he married a colleague, Joselen Ransome and she survived him when he died on 28 June 1987.