John Kilshaw was educated at Manchester University where he gained first class honours in physiology in his BSc in 1956 and qualified MB ChB in 1959. After qualification he held house posts and registrarships at Ancoats Hospital and Withington Hospital, Manchester, and at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. He was consultant surgeon to the Furness General Hospital, Barrow-in-Furness. He died on 19 May 1994, survived by his wife, Anne, three children, Nigel, Beverley and Diane, and grandchildren Ross and Jack.