Roy Harfitt was born in Alexandria, Egypt on 15 March 1944. He had no medical connections. His grandfather, Vicar of St Mary at Hill (the Billingsgate fish market church) founded the Christian Evidence Society. Ronald Stanley Harfitt, his father, worked in civil aviation and his mother was Josephine Lilian, née Massad. He was brought up in London and went to school at St Gabriels, Angel, and then Cardinal Vaughan, Holland Park. He trained at Bart's, winning the ophthalmology prize. After a variety of junior posts he became SHO at Oxford Eye Hospital, registrar at Moorfields, and at St Thomas's and Guy's he held the post of consultant ophthalmic surgeon in the Merton and Sutton Health District from 1977 until his death. He was also lecturer at St George's Hospital, Tooting. He established ophthalmology in paediatrics at Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, and was president of the Sutton and District Blind Association. In 1966 he married Norma Mary. They had two daughters, Suzanne and Annelise. His hobbies included gardening, swimming and travelling abroad. He bought land in Portugal and helped to design a villa which, when built, became a dream come true. He had a strong sense of justice and compassion and was devoted to his family. Colleagues and members of staff relied on his judgement and advice. He died on 23 October 1994, aged 50 years.