Walpole Sinclair Lewin was born on August 20, 1915. His father died while he was very young. After a brilliant career at school he entered university as an exhibitioner and qualified from University College Hospital in 1939. After resident appointments at UCH he proceeded to FRCS in 1940 and at the London MS in 1942. Joining the RAMC he was posted to the Head Injuries Military Hospital at St Hugh's College, Oxford, where he came under the influence of Sir Hugh Cairns. He subsequently served in the Middle East, achieving the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in charge of a surgical division. In due course he was to follow Cairns as consultant neurosurgeon to the Army. His outstanding ability and inexhaustible energy had been spotted by Cairns and at the end of the war he was appointed assistant surgeon and lecturer to the Nuffield Department of Neurosurgery at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford. In 1955 he became consultant neurosurgeon to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, and was tireless in helping to set up the new medical school. He enjoyed an international reputation as a neurosurgeon but it was in the field of head injuries that his contributions will be best remembered. He was invited to give the Ruscoe Clarke Lecture in Birmingham in 1967 and the Victor Horsley Memorial Lecture in 1975 and many other honours flowed his way. At the British Medical Association he was an outstanding committee man and chaired the Central Committee for Hospital Services and the Central Council and in recognition of his services he was awarded the BMA's Gold Medal in 1979. In many other spheres he achieved distinction, becoming Chairman of the World Medical Association, World Federation of Medical Education, Standing Committee of Doctors on the EEC and the Commonwealth Medical Association. He was a Fellow of Darwin College, Cambridge, and University College, London. He served with distinction on the General Medical Council until his death. He was appointed CBE in 1978. He was elected to the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons and became Vice-President 1976-1977, he was still serving on Council when he died from a cerebral haemorrhage on 23 January 1980. A service of thanksgiving, attended by the President and Council of the College was held at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge on 15 March, 1980 when the lessons were read by Sir Reginald Murley, PRCS and Dr Grabham, Chairman of the Council of the BMA. The address was given by Sir Thomas Holmes-Sellors, Past President of the College. Walpole Lewin was a quiet, unassuming man of great integrity and his serious mien disguised a warm heart and nice sense of humour. He was happily married but tragically his wife, Marion (née Cumming), whom he had married in 1947 died the year before he did. They had a daughter, Caroline, and a son.