Martin Taube was a consultant urologist at West Wales General Hospital, Carmarthen. He was born on 27 June 1950 in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He was sent to Peterhouse School in Zimbabwe for his education, proceeding to University College, London, and then to Westminster Medical School for his clinical studies. He qualified in 1975 and obtained the Begley prize in the same year for his MRCS. He obtained the Hallett prize in the primary FRCS examination in 1976. His training posts in surgery were at the Westminster group of hospitals and also at Watford, Kingston and Wycombe general hospitals. Taube carried out experimental studies on the effects of jaundice on wound healing under Harold Ellis at Westminster and was awarded the MS for his thesis in 1988. The following year he was appointed as a consultant urologist and surgeon to the Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, and then, in 1997, as a consultant urologist at the West Wales General Hospital, Carmarthen, until shortly before his death from lung cancer (although a non-smoker) on 16 March 2008. In addition to Taube's clinical work, he acted in numerous other capacities, including as a surgical tutor for the Royal College of Surgeons and as treasurer of the Welsh Urological Society. Taube was survived by his wife, Lorraine, an ex-Kingston Hospital nurse, and by their two sons, Jonathan, born in 1990, and James, born in 1993. Both are still students. Outside his heavy clinical studies, Taube enjoyed his garden and sailing.