John Stanger was a prominent orthopaedic surgeon in and around Newcastle-upon-Tyne, serving the Royal Victoria Infirmary from his appointment in 1934 until retirement in 1973. He devoted much time to building up an integrated orthopaedic service in Newcastle and was also consultant to the W J Sanderson Orthopaedic Hospital and Hexham General Hospital. He became Fellow of the British Orthopaedic Association and served on the committee. He was a member of the British Tuberculosis Association for he was much involved in the surgery of bone and joint tuberculosis. Also he had a special interest in the reconstructive surgery of poliomyelitis. He excelled in other things as well as orthopaedic surgery. As a dinghy sailor he was Commodore of the Tynemouth Sailing Club. He was an accomplished musician including the pipes amongst his instruments. On one occasion he was champion of the Northumberland half long pipes. He had an interest in photography and cinematography and made some teaching films. Art was another interest and he was at one time chairman of the Friends of the Laing Art Gallery and then president of the gallery. His wife Audrey died suddenly and tragically in 1968. He died suddenly on 21 July 1980, survived by his son and daughter-in-law and two grand-daughters to whom he was devoted.