John Dreadon was born in Northern Wairoa, North Auckland, New Zealand on 29 May 1898, the fourth child in a family of six; his father was a farmer and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Webb. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and Otago University, Dunedin, qualifying in 1921. He held various resident posts for 18 months at Auckland Hospital, before travelling to London by sea in 1922. While in England he held appointments at the Hampstead General Hospital, New End Hospital, and other London hospitals, and obtained his Fellowship in 1924. In 1926 he returned to general practice in Auckland, but in 1927 was appointed to the staff of Auckland Hospital, as an ear, nose and throat surgeon, and from 1929 as a general surgeon, working with Sir Carrick Robertson and Kenneth Mackenzie. During the second world war he served at Auckland Hospital, being unfit for overseas service, but after the war on his appointment as a senior surgeon he moved to Green Lane Hospital. He retired in 1959. During his active life he contributed much to Huia, and Lavington Trust Private Hospitals, being in turn Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Trust. Among other services he was President of the Auckland Divison of the BMA and a referee for the Southern Cross Medical Care Society; his private pursuits included gardening and bowls. From 1945 onwards he suffered from diabetes and vascular trouble for which he underwent operations. In 1967 he suffered a severe fracture dislocation of one ankle, and this was followed by a coronary attack. He married in 1928 Madge Griffiths and they dispensed generous hospitality in their home and garden; he died after a short illness on 14 July, survived by his wife, a son and daughter and five grandchildren.