John Ayoub was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the London Hospital, a former Vice-President of the Faculty of Ophthalmologists and a College Council member. He was born on 7 September 1908 in South Kensington, the son of Moussa Ayoub, the celebrated portrait painter, who painted the Council in 1926, and Maria André, daughter of an architect and sister of J E André, a general practitioner. Ayoub was educated at St Paul's and then won a science scholarship to Lincoln College, Oxford, where he was soon recognised as an outstanding oarsman, rowing for his college. He did his clinical training at St Thomas's where, after junior appointments in casualty and general surgery, he became house surgeon to the ophthalmic department and made this his speciality. After appointments in Lincoln and Leicester, he became house surgeon at Moorfields, ending there as chief assistant. During this period he acknowledged the influence of Charles Goulden. He also travelled extensively, visiting the clinics of Louis Paufique in Lyons, Lindner in Vienna and Custodis in Dusseldorf. He had joined the RNVR in 1938 and served throughout the war as an ophthalmic specialist with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was appointed consultant ophthalmic surgeon to the London Hospital in 1947 and to Moorfields three years later. At the College, he was Vice President of the Faculty of Ophthalmologists and a member of Council. A tall, genial, kindly man, John Ayoub was popular with his students, to whom he was unfailingly courteous, and a much-respected colleague who was always available, no matter the hour. He had married Madelaine Martin in 1939 and they had a son and daughter. He retired to Alderney where his garden was soon winning prizes and he could indulge his passion for sailing and bell ringing. He died on 6 July 1999.