John Samuel Hopkirk was born in Kelburn, Wellington, to Cyril Hopkirk (a veterinarian) and Dorothy (née Saunders, a ballet dancer and teacher). He had two sisters, Mary and Patricia and a brother, Alan. John’s early life was coloured by his father’s absence for veterinary studies at Melbourne. Money was tight. At the age of four he had surgery to remove a hydatid cyst from his lung and as a consequence he was educated at home for a year. This gave him a head start at Upper Hutt Primary School where he went directly into Standard One. His secondary schooling was at Wellington College. He enjoyed chess, playing the piano and a variety of sports, but excelled in shooting, representing both the College and Wellington. At the age of seventeen John entered Knox College to study medicine at Otago University. At Knox College he was a member of the ‘Green Hornet Gang’ noted for endless academic pranks within the hall. He commented on student life: “The lifestyle in Knox College in 1940 onwards was fundamentally one of persistent hard work. There was a war on, and we were reminded that we were a privileged group to be allowed to study at such a time and if we failed to perform academically, we too would not continue to have the privilege of study. Knox was a college with strong traditions, closely allied to the Presbyterian Church by which it was governed. Alcohol was not permitted, and women only to a limited degree.” John returned to Wellington in 1945 for his sixth year, remaining there a further two years as house surgeon, but with secondment to other places including the mining town of Denniston. He commented on those years: “It was a wise student who made friends with the ward sisters, and heeded their advice about patient management.” John became Surgical Registrar at Memorial Hospital, Hastings in 1948. He writes: “It was taken for granted that I would do all duties, including medicine and anaesthetics, while I wanted only surgery, so some negotiating took place. I finished up doing mostly surgery, but my anaesthetic expertise was used whenever a relaxant and intubation was required. I gave the first anaesthetic using curare in Hastings.” In Dunedin John had met Zephne Lepper, a Home Science student, and they married in 1948. Shortly before they sailed for London in 1949, so John could obtain further surgical experience, their first child, Robin, was born. The first few months were difficult as he studied for and then obtained his Primary in July 1950. Getting surgical experience was equally difficult, but employment at Hillington Hospital and then at Grantham and Kesteven Hospital in Lincolnshire provided the surgical opportunities to enable him to satisfy the FRCS examiners in November 1951. John then worked at New End Hospital, Hampstead and was there for the last great smog in March 1952. “It was a blessing for London really, for the health results were so bad that measures were immediately taken to forbid the use of coal fires in Central London, and these were fully implemented.” Their second child, Diane, was born in 1953 and the family sailed back to New Zealand later that year. Returning to Wellington Hospital, John secured a position as Senior Surgical Registrar and Tutor. As it was impossible to obtain a long term appointment in Wellington, he looked at provincial positions throughout the North Island before joining a Te Kuiti practice and becoming Surgeon Superintendent of the Hospital in July 1954. In 1955 their twin daughters, Philipa and Rosemary were born. Concern for family education was a factor in the decision to return to Hastings in 1959 for a two session/week appointment. Satisfactorily completing a viva he was awarded his FRACS the same year. The first years were hard until he became established and work in general practice was necessary for survival. His surgical work was truly general, including orthopaedics, ENT, paediatric, O&G and vascular surgery. As more specialists commenced work in Hastings he was able to reduce his non-general surgical work and with time vascular surgery became his sub-speciality. “My work was my life, and the family revolved around it. Whether this was right or wrong for them, it was so. I was a young, enthusiastic surgeon, but the nature of the practice ensured that for many years I also had to conduct a type of general practice, to obtain surgical cases and to make a living.” A well-liked and respected colleague, John was a skillful and versatile surgeon noted for his ready availability and wisdom. His patients appreciated his sense of humour. He was active in local medical affairs, being President of the Hawke’s Bay Division of the New Zealand Medical Association in 1973. John provided sterling service to Hastings hospital and delayed his retirement in 1988 by 18 months to enable his replacement, John Fleischl, to complete his vascular training. With the share market crash in 1987 and a continuing love of surgery John continued to work as a locum from Balclutha to Kaitaia until he was forced to retire after a car accident in August 1992. After full retirement, John did extramural papers at Massey, usually getting an A pass, played bridge and joined Probus. He had found golf incompatible with his work and kept physically active in the garden. Zephne's health deteriorated and despite John's own difficulties he remained her principal caregiver. They moved to Tauranga in 2014 and Zephne died in 2016. John’s health subsequently steadily declined. They are survived by their four children, Robin (veterinarian), Diane (kindergarten teacher), Philipa (occupational therapist) and Rosemary (teacher), 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. This obituary in based on that prepared for the New Zealand Medical Journal (10 November 2017, Volume 130, Number 1465) by David Davidson. It was largely derived from John’s memoirs, kindly made available by his family, and with the assistance of Dr Stewart Drysdale, FRNZCGP.