Jack Albert White was born on 5 May 1906, the son of Edward James White, a colour lithographer and his wife Mabel, née Rollings. He was educated at Emmanuel School, Wandsworth, and, after two years, obtained a scholarship to Sutton Valence School, whence he was awarded an entrance scholarship to St Mary's Hospital. After qualifying in 1929 he held surgical posts at St Mary's and at the Miller Hospital. He served in the Emergency Medical Service at Park Prewett Hospital, Basingstoke, during the war and later was surgical specialist in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in Ceylon, with the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander. After the introduction of the NHS he was appointed consultant surgeon to Haslemere and District Hospital. He was lecturer for the Order of St John and in freemasonry was promoted to London grand rank. As an undergraduate he played rugby for St Mary's. He married in 1938 Miss O'Gorman. They had one son and one daughter, both of whom entered the law. After his first wife's death in 1974 he married again in 1985. He died on 1 July 1987 aged 81 years.