Gerald Huxham Pearce was born in Stonehouse, Plymouth, on 15 May 1906, the son of Albert Preston Pearce, a bank manager, and Jessie Annie Ridge, of Holsworthy, North Devon. He was educated at Sidcot School, a Quaker school, in Somerset and then University College Hospital, where he was greatly influenced by Gwynne Williams, and played hockey, cricket and tennis. He did junior posts at UCH and became RSO at the Royal Salop Infirmary. After serving as surgical specialist to the EMS Hospital at Park Prewitt, he joined the RAF, rising to Squadron Leader. On demobilisation he became consultant orthopaedic surgeon to the Whittington Hospital, London, resigning in 1968 to pursue his private practice. He was a surgical specialist member of the Medical Legal Society. In 1979 he published a book, *The medical report and testimony* (London, Allen & Unwin). He married Eileen Barbara Wynne (née Lawler) in 1942. They had no children. He was a fine cellist, and broadcast solos on the BBC. He died on 6 December 1997.