Sidney Ward Allinson was born in Alford, Lincolnshire on 12 July 1904, one of identical twins. His brother, Francis, was also FRCS, and died in 1990. He was educated at Aldenham School and University College Hospital. He subsequently joined the Indian Medical Service and worked as a civil surgeon in Burma; during the war he served in the Indian army, becoming a lieutenant colonel. With the coming of independence, Sidney returned to Britain and retrained in otolaryngology. He was appointed to the Boston hospitals in 1951 and worked single handedly and without junior staff for twenty years, until his retirement. Sidney had a great zest for life, and strongly-held beliefs. He studied psychology and musical appreciation, maintained his own cars, and swam every morning until shortly before his death. He died in 1991, survived by his wife Margaret, five children and three grandchildren.