James Sinclair Rennick Baxter was first appointed as a consultant in otorhinolaryngology at King's Lynn, Norfolk, in 1969, but spent a very productive period of his clinical years in Canterbury, Kent, from 1971 until 1997. He was born in Canada on 6 September 1935. His father, James Sinclair Baxter, was a well-known anatomist and expert embryologist. His mother, Mona Earls, was a nurse. 'Rennie' went to school at Clifton College, Bristol, and spent his pre-clinical years at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Proceeding to Charing Cross Hospital on a Thomas Henry Huxley exhibition, he qualified in 1960. House appointments at Putney Hospital and Charing Cross were followed by a rotating senior house officer appointment in Norwich, where he had the advantage of experience in general and plastic surgery. A further post in Bristol determined his future career in ENT. In Canterbury he instigated the audiology department and witnessed its growth. Rennie was an extremely amiable and outgoing colleague who had many musical interests. He sang in several choirs, including the Canterbury Choral Society, played the trumpet and was interested in organ building. Always a DIY enthusiast, he was a fine craftsman in carpentry, plumbing and electrical work. These led to the restoration of several old houses. A few months before his retirement, he had a major stroke that rendered many of his interests difficult to pursue. He read widely and hoped that physiotherapy would improve his disability so that he could pursue his other passions. Rennie remained a member of the council of the Sue Ryder Foundation from 1995. He married Patricia Noël Dunning on 5 March 1960. She pursued many interests of her own and was co-founder of Hope-Romania, a children's home and bakery project in north west Romania. Patty encouraged Rennie through his dark moments and nursed him over these years until he died in septic shock on 9 February 2009. Rennie was a practising Anglican and, after his stroke, worshipped regularly at Canterbury Cathedral on Sunday in his buggy. His funeral service was held in the undercroft of the cathedral. James Sinclair Rennick Baxter leaves his wife of 49 years, three children and six grandchildren. His daughter, Sara, is an anaesthetist. Timothy, who also qualified as a doctor, now works in the Department of Health. Adam was a political analyst and lobbyist for the trade union Equity, and is currently with Offcom.