Robert Anthony Bailey was born in Greytown, Natal, South Africa, the son of Robert Bailey, a company secretary, and Hilda, a music teacher and housewife. He was educated at Grey School, Port Elizabeth, and then went on to study medicine at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, and the University of Cape Town. He qualified MB BCh in 1949. He trained at Provincial Hospital, Port Elizabeth, and at Conradie and Victoria hospitals, Cape Town. He also went to the UK and gained his FRCS in 1954. We know nothing of his subsequent career. Outside medicine he enjoyed golf, music and photography. In May 1954 he married Sheila Maureen Watts, who was also a doctor. They had three children, James, Jill and Nigel. He died on 15 October 1995.