Ken Wilkinson qualified from St Mary's Hospital in 1942. After house jobs he served in the RNVR as surgeon lieutenant, returning to complete his training at the Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Taplow. He was a true general surgeon, and although his main interest was in urology, he resisted the separation of that specialty from the main body of surgery, and continued to maintain an interest in the surgery of the oesophagus and pharynx and the small bowel. He was consultant surgeon to St George's Hospital and a stalwart member of the Court of Examiners of the College, continuing to examine long after he had retired. He had a delightful personality, always amusing and cheerful, dapper and enthusiastic. He died on 28 July 1997 survived by his wife Joyce, children Robert and Fiona, and grandson Henry.