Ian Macfarlane, the son of James Macfarlane and Islena, née Cromarty, was born on 8 September 1925 in Uckfield, Sussex. He was educated at Seafield Park, Fareham, Hampshire, and received his medical training at the Middlesex Hospital. After qualifying in 1948 he held an appointment as casualty officer at Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, East London, after which he served in the RAF as a flight lieutenant medical officer for two years. He continued his surgical training in 1950 following demobilization from National Service with a six month appointment as house surgeon in general surgery at the Central Middlesex Hospital. This was followed by a twelve month post as resident surgical officer at Nobles Hospital on the Isle of Man. His training in orthopaedic surgery began in September 1952 at Walton Hospital, Liverpool, where he was registrar until September 1956. He moved on to the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry as registrar until November 1958, at which point he became senior registrar. His training was greatly influenced by his association with H G Almond in Liverpool and Sir Henry Osmond Clark in Oswestry. He was appointed consultant orthopaedic surgeon to the Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, in 1962, where initially he was the only orthopaedic consultant until a colleague was appointed in 1978. He was also a visiting consultant to the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital and the West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen. His particular interest was in the surgical treatment of congenital hip disease. His retirement in 1985 enabled him to pursue his interests in farming, classical literature, bridge, music, walking and gardening. He died of cerebrovascular disease on 25 February 1996, leaving a wife, Dorothy, and three daughters, Susan, Helen and Fiona.