Jim Lowry was born in Chicago of Northern Irish parents in 1927. He trained at the London Hospital where he played rugby, and was known as a popular, quiet person who had a good sense of humour. He also played the London Irish. After doing his National Service he returned to London to study for the FRCS which he obtained in 1957, and started on the general surgical registrar rotation, working for a time with Vernon Thompson. He found it impossible to get any further up the ladder, and turned to general practice, joining a practice in Shepherd's Market, about which he would tell the most wonderful stories. He remained in the professorial department at Charing Cross to run the varicose vein clinic and keep his surgical hand in. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack on 15 February 1996, leaving a wife, Audrey, one son and two daughters.