Benudhar Goswami was born in Calcutta on 11 December 1927 and studied medicine at the R G Kar Medical College there, qualifying in 1953. He came to England in the following year and worked at hospitals in Wakefield and Stockport, passing the FRCS in 1961. He was then surgical registrar at Hertford County Hospital and in 1964 was appointed surgical specialist to the Ministry of Health, Guyana. He worked there single-handedly for three years before returning to England to resume his orthopaedic career in the Manchester area as senior registrar at Withington Hospital. He acquired a particular interest in hand surgery and in the treatment of skeletal tuberculosis and, after completing his postgraduate training, he was appointed consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Tameside General Hospital, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, in January 1975. He gained a reputation as a tireless worker and skilful surgeon who treated patients and staff with extreme courtesy. Two years before his death he sustained a severe heart attack and required a pacemaker. Although he returned to work afterwards his health again failed and despite cardiac transplantation he died on 10 November 1990. His outside interests were cricket and chess, at which he was an accomplished player. He is survived by his wife Margery, a daughter, Rachel, who is a qualified solicitor and a son, Mark, who is a hospital administrator.