Malcolm May was born in Gravesend, Kent, on 16 October 1919, the son of John George May, a Trinity House pilot, and Aileen (née Reynolds). He was educated at Gravesend Grammar School and Guy's Hospital, qualifying by the Conjoint examination in 1942. He joined the Royal Navy as Surgeon-Lieutenant, served in the Persian Gulf and Ceylon and was appointed MBE in 1944. After the war he completed training, passing the MB, BS examination in 1948 and FRCS in 1954. He emigrated to Canada in 1955, settling in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where his competence and courtesy as chief of staff were held in high regard at the Holy Family and Victoria Union Hospitals. He was a founder member and onetime commodore of the Prince Albert Sailing Club and a long-standing member of St Alban's Cathedral, serving on its Corporation. He read widely and enjoyed foreign travel but most of all he enjoyed family life. In 1951 he married Jean (née Cooper), a nurse, and they had three sons, Martin, Nigel and Clive. He died suddenly while on holiday in England on 15 April 1984.