James McKenzie received his medical education at Aberdeen University. After National Service in the RAMC he specialised in ENT, training at Manchester Royal Infirmary and Wolverhampton. He became consultant ENT surgeon to Wolverhampton, Dudley and Worcester/Hereford Area Health Authorities. He published on lesser malignancies of the nose and antro-ethmoidal complex. He and his wife, Brenty had a son, Iain and daughter, Susan. He died in Stourbridge on 6 January 1999, aged 77 years survived by his wife, children and grandchildren, James, Richard and Alex.