Douglas Tooms was a consultant surgeon to the Mid Worcestershire Hospital Group. He received his medical education in Cardiff and was a house surgeon and house physician at Cardiff Royal Infirmary. He was a resident surgical officer at the Gordon Hospital, a registrar at Warneford Hospital, Leamington Spa, and subsequently a senior registrar at Luton and Dunstable Hospital. Douglas was a colourful character who was known to be a good technical surgeon. He was appointed to the West Midlands as a consultant surgeon to both Kidderminster and Bromsgrove hospitals. His appointment followed the replacement of a very academic surgeon who had been so stressed by the wide variety of challenges in a small busy district general hospital that he had taken his own life. Douglas’ contrasting reputation provided the obvious solution for the local regional board. Though Douglas was happy to put his hand to anything, he developed an increasing interest in urology which, towards the end of his career, became his main activity.