John Redcliffe Salaman was a general surgeon and professor of transplant surgery in Cardiff. The first transplant in Cardiff had been done by David Crosby in 1967. By 1970 it was clear that a dedicated transplant surgeon with an academic interest was required and John Salaman was appointed to this post. As well as being a transplant surgeon, he formed a general surgical firm with David Crosby and Hilary Wade. He later formed a general firm with Malcolm Wheeler, but continued for many years as the sole transplant surgeon as he gradually built up the unit. He moved up the academic ladder, being promoted from senior lecturer, to reader and then, in 1983, to professor of transplant surgery. He continued throughout his career to pursue a general surgical interest and remained on the general on-call rota. Not content with a heavy clinical load in general and transplantation surgery, he continued to run a research programme. Although he published clinical papers related to his general surgical practice, the main thrust of his research was into the immunosuppressive regimes used to prevent rejection. He was born in Wenden, Essex on 14 October 1937. The second of four children, his father was Arthur Gabriel Salaman, a GP in Stanstead, Essex. His mother was Nancy Adelaide Salaman née Samuel, a psychologist, and the daughter of Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel, who was Home Secretary in 1916 and again from 1931 to 1932. His paternal grandfather, Redcliffe Salaman, was medically qualified, a distinguished scientist and a fellow of the Royal Society. John Salaman was educated at Bedales School near Petersfield, Clare College, Cambridge and the London Hospital Medical School. In 1961, while still a student, he married a fellow medical student, Patricia Burkett, who later became a consultant clinical oncologist. After graduation in 1963, he became a house surgeon to John Blandy and Douglas Eadie. He then returned to Cambridge as an anatomy demonstrator. His surgical training was based in Cambridge, where he gained the FRCS (in 1967) during a surgical training rotation. His mentor was Roy Calne, recently appointed to the chair of surgery and a pioneer in transplant surgery in Britain. John became involved in transplant research and assisted at the first liver transplant in the UK. He returned to the London as a lecturer in the academic department of surgery before his appointment to Cardiff in 1970. His work in transplantation was nationally regarded and was reflected by his appointment as chairman of the British Transplantation Society, chairman of the Transplant Training Advisory Committee and treasurer of the International Transplantation Society. He also took a full role in local organisations and, among other appointments, was chairman of the division of surgery in Cardiff, clinical director of surgical services and medical director, University Hospital of Wales/Cardiff Royal Infirmary executive board. A diagnosis of leukaemia precipitated his retirement in 1994, but he continued to be active in retirement. He took on a number of roles in the community, including director of the management board of Lightship 2000, secretary and president of Cardiff North Probus Club, secretary of the Rhiwbina Bowls Club and president of the Welsh Kidney Patients’ Association. He continued to be active despite considerable physical disability caused by complications of his treatment for leukaemia and remained good company to the end. In retirement, he developed the woodworking skills that had begun at school and created many elegant pieces. He also kept a yacht in Cardiff with which he explored the Severn Estuary, along with longer trips to Ireland and Brittany. Of all his publications, he was proudest of one in a yachting magazine. In retirement, he turned his attention to canals and had many happy times on his narrowboat. A devoted family man whose deep Christian faith informed his private life and his work, John played a full role in his local Methodist church, where he was chief steward to the local Methodist council. A lasting tribute to his woodworking may be found in his church, where the church furniture is a testament to his skills. John died on 16 February 2018 in Cardiff at the age of 80. He was survived by his widow Pat, their four children – Robert (a consultant surgeon in Blackburn), Janet, Mary and Paul – and seven grandchildren.