Philip Binns was born on 26 June 1928, son of Harry Binns, a merchant, and Selena Ellen Moore. He was educated at Keighley Grammar School, and then did his National Service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as a radar mechanic. He was demobilised in 1948 and entered Leeds University Medical School, where he was influenced by M C Oldfield and Professor Digby Chamberlain. He qualified in 1955 and was house surgeon at Otley General Hospital and obstetric house officer at St Mary's Hospital, Leeds, passing the DRCOG in 1957 and the FRCS in 1959. At this stage he decided to specialise in oto-rhino-laryngology and was appointed senior registrar in the ENT department of Leeds General Infirmary from 1963 to 1964, where he worked under Angell James. Deciding to emigrate to the USA he passed the ECMFG examination and the Michigan State Board exams in 1965, and was appointed assistant professor in ENT surgery at Wayne State University, Detroit, later becoming associate professor. He was elected a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1966. A man of wide interests, he was a keen swimmer and skier, and enjoyed gardening and bee-keeping. He married Maryan Ratcliffe in 1953. They had one son and three daughters, one of whom became a doctor. Binns died on 14 January 1992, aged 63.