‘C J’ Sanderson was a gastro-enterologist on Merseyside. He was born in Blackpool on 2 December 1947. His father, Joseph Sanderson, was a schoolmaster. His mother was Patricia Mary née Caunt. From Blackpool Grammar School he went to Liverpool University Medical School, where he was county swimming champion. After qualifying in 1971 he did house jobs at Liverpool Royal Infirmary, and went on to do registrar posts at Clatterbridge, Chester Royal Infirmary and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. He then spent a year as a research fellow in the department of surgery, Chicago University, before becoming consultant general surgeon at St Helen’s Knowsley. His main interest was in gastro-oesophageal cancer and laparoscopy. Outside surgery he was an enthusiastic follower of motor racing. He married Jane Seymour in 1971, and they had three sons. He died on 22 July 2005.