Eric Murray studied medicine in Aberdeen, qualifying in 1944. After junior posts, he did his National Service, and afterwards worked as a registrar on rotation at Luton and Dunstable, the Central Middlesex and the Royal Free Hospitals. In 1959, he was appointed consultant surgeon initially at Tilbury and Billericay, and then at Basildon, Orsett and Brentwood Nuffield Hospitals. In 1977, he suffered a major heart attack, and became a part-time radiologist at Basildon until he retired in 1983. He was a keen golfer, achieving a hole in one, for which his club awarded him a special tie. He married his wife Laurie, who predeceased him. They had three sons. There are four grandchildren. He died from left ventricular failure on 11 April 2001.