Reginald Broomhead was born in Beeston in Nottinghamshire and attended Ackworth School, before receiving his medical training in Leeds. He qualified in 1925 and was appointed house surgeon to Lord Moynihan. Later he developed an increasing interest in orthopaedic surgery and spent time not only with Robert Jones but also Smith-Petersen from whom he gained his expertise in cup arthroplasty of the hip. He was appointed to the staff of the Leeds General Infirmary in 1932 at the age of 29 and developed the orthopaedic service in Leeds and surrounding areas, including the Royal Bath Hospital in Harrogate. He greatly enjoyed working at the Marguerite Hepton Children's Orthopaedic Hospital at Thorp Arch for long-stay cases, as he was always fond of children. In 1955 he left the Infirmary to go to St James's Hospital, Leeds, where he worked until his retirement. In addition to his many hospital commitments he found time for a busy private practice. He was also largely instrumental in forming the Yorkshire Association for the Disabled which, with minimal resources, opened St George's House in 1952 for the young with chronic disabilities. For many years he was chairman and guiding spirit of this venture. Reginald Broomhead's main non-medical interest was cricket. It gave him great pleasure to be made a life member of Yorkshire County Cricket Club to which, over many years, he had given his professional services. He was a keen golf player and had a lifelong interest in music. After retirement in 1967 he lived at Kippford, where he developed a fine garden. He died on 3 February 1984 aged 81 years, survived by his wife, Phyllis, their son and two daughters.