Philip Baron was born in Bulawayo on 30 June 1907, and received his early education at Milton School, where he excelled both academically and on the field of sport. He then proceeded to the University of Cape Town, where he graduated MB ChB in 1930. He was appointed to the Woodstock Hospital as house-surgeon, but in addition his duties also included work in the Cape Southern Suburban hospital group. Thereafter he proceeded to London, where he took the Conjoint Diploma in 1932, followed by the FRCS in 1935. Subsequently he worked in Newcastle and Norwich as surgical registrar before returning to Rhodesia in 1937. As there was no scope for a specialist surgeon in Bulawayo at the time, he entered general practice, but his interests remained mainly surgical. With the advent of the second world war he was one of the earliest to volunteer for military service. In 1940 he was drafted to Nairobi as senior surgeon to No 2 (Southern Rhodesia) General Hospital, where his skill gained for him a great reputation throughout the whole of the East African Command. On the termination of the Abyssinian campaign, and withdrawal of the Rhodesian Hospital, he proceeded to the Middle East Command, where he remained until the termination of the war, serving with distinction both in the forward area and in base hospitals. After demobilization with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel he returned to his native Bulawayo in 1945 to start practice as consultant surgeon, and was immediately appointed an honorary consultant surgeon to the Bulawayo hospital group. From then onwards he gave his best, and this was a very good best, to all who were entitled to his services, whether they were war pensioners, old-age pensioners, schoolchildren, or private patients. Whatever their designation he treated each and every one with the utmost skill and patience, and bestowed on them that kindness which was inborn in him. His surgical judgement was excellent and his indications for operation were seldom at fault. Technically he was conservative in his approach and his results were gratifyingly successful. Apart from his work, he was keenly interested in all medical affairs and he served on innumerable committees dealing with medical and hospital administration. He was a member of the British Medical Association continuously from 1933, and was honorary secretary of the Metabeleland Branch in 1947-8, and president in 1951-2. Additionally he was an elected member of the Medical Council of Rhodesia, on which he served with distinction from 1954. He was an active member of the Rhodesia Cancer Association from the time of its inception and an able and ardent worker on its behalf. He was interested in most matters of culture, and was a committee member of the Arts Council of Rhodesia. His outside interests were many and varied. He represented his university at rugby and boxing, and played and enjoyed most sports. He was never happier than when he had a fishing-rod or golf-club in his hands. Rhodesia, and particularly Bulawayo, was the poorer for his passing, and his professional colleagues sorely missed his wisdom, his knowledge, and his skill. While in Bulawayo he practised on 8th Avenue, Wilson Street. He died suddenly on a train journey from Bulawayo to Johannesburg, on 2 April 1967, aged 59. He was survived by his wife and three daughters.