Born 29 August 1903, eldest child of William Bolton, a bespoke tailor, and his wife née Worswick, he was educated at Manchester Grammar School and University, and was resident surgical officer at Ancoats Hospital and at Stockport Infirmary, to which he afterwards became consulting surgeon. He served for a time as chief assistant in the surgical unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Bolton had a consulting practice at 11 St John Street, Manchester, and was surgeon to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, the Macclesfield General Infirmary, the West Park Hospital, Macclesfield, the Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, and the Buxton cottage hospital. He married in 1939 Esme M Unwin, who survived him with a son and two daughters; they lived at Heaton Mersey. Bolton died in hospital on 8 July 1957, aged 53.