Harry Teesdale Simmons was born on 17 February 1903, and educated at Manchester Grammar School and Manchester University where he graduated MB ChB in 1924. He then spent a year in junior hospital appointments, and afterwards worked in physiology obtaining the BSc in 1926, presumably as part of his basic scientific training for surgery, for he then proceeded to hold hospital posts as RSO and chief assistant, taking the Conjoint Diploma in 1928 and the FRCS in 1929. Simmons was research assistant to Professor E D Telford and his interest was thus stimulated in the surgery of the sympathetic nervous system which was the subject of a Hunterian lecture delivered by him in 1939. He had obtained the ChM degree in 1935, and the MD in 1939. During the second world war Simmons served in the RAMC in Gibraltar and in India where he was a consultant surgeon with the rank of Brigadier. In 1933 he had been appointed to the staff of the Christie Hospital and returned there after the war; and in 1947 he joined the surgical staff of the Manchester Royal Infirmary and was there till he retired in 1966. He was a skilful operator and an excellent clinical teacher of undergraduate and postgraduate students. His wise council was also appreciated by his colleagues and he rendered valuable service on the hospital board of management and later on the board of governors. After retiring he spent much of his time in his garden at Wilmslow, but poor health tended to limit his activities. He died on 27 January 1972 and was survived by his wife, herself a doctor, and four daughters, two of whom became nurses.