Denis Nash was a surgeon at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. He was born on 10 February 1913 and educated at Dulwich College. He went on to study medicine at Bart's, where he won several scholarships and prizes, and qualified in 1935. After junior posts he became chief assistant in surgery at Bart's in 1939, but having already joined the RAFVR he was called on active service at the outbreak of the war. He served for six years, rising to Wing Commander and chief surgeon to the RAF strategic bomber force in the Balkans. After the war, he was appointed to the Children's Hospital at Sydenham and a year later to the staff of St Bartholomew's. Twice Hunterian Professor (in 1949 and 1956), he was also Arris and Gale lecturer in 1950. He was regional postgraduate dean and assistant director of the medical college at Bart's. He was an enthusiastic teacher, not without a sense of humour. On one occasion a student inadvertently kept his foot on the diathermy pedal when the diathermy point came into contact with a wet patch on the front of his gown. Denis experienced an intense pain in his chest, and, assuming this was a heart attack, stepped back to make his peace with his Maker. To his astonishment and delight, the pain immediately disappeared. This made Denis rather suspicious, and when he found out the explanation, he was so pleased still to be alive that he did not say a word. He had a particular interest in the surgery of children, especially those suffering from spina bifida and the aftermath of thalidomide. He served the Chailey Heritage Hospital in Sussex for many years. His book for nurses, *The principles and practice of surgical nursing* (London, Edward Arnold, 1955) ran to seven editions. In 1938 he married Joan Mary Andrew, who died in 1998. They had two daughters, the eldest of whom qualified at Bart's but died tragically early in 1990 of cystic fibrosis. Of their two sons, one followed him to Bart's, but changed course to become a distinguished lawyer. A sincere Christian, Denis Nash was a keen photographer and became an expert in medical illustration. He was made an honorary fellow of the Medical Artists' Association. He died on 4 August 2000.