William Martin Walker was a consultant ophthalmologist in Birmingham. He was born on 31 October 1919. He qualified from St Andrews University in 1943, completed his house jobs in Dundee and then served as a captain in the RAMC in Italy from 1945 to 1947. Before he was demobilised he gained his first experience in ophthalmology, being doctor in charge of the ophthalmic department of 92 British General Hospital. After the war, he completed his ophthalmic training in Dundee and Birmingham. In 1950 he was appointed consultant ophthalmic surgeon to the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital and to Queen Elizabeth General and Children’s Hospital, Birmingham. He developed the first specialist glaucoma service in the West Midlands and also developed a specialised service for paediatric ophthalmology at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. He was recognised as an enthusiastic teacher. Outside medicine, he was a keen golfer, played bridge and tended his rose garden. He married Gladys, who predeceased him in 2001. He died on 16 July 2005 from oesophageal cancer, and leaves four children and five grandchildren.