Bernard Sanger was at school in Hastings and received his medical training at the London Hospital where he qualified in 1934. He pursued his surgical career at the London Hospital before his appointment to Southend Municipal Hospital in 1938. Rodney Maingot was a visiting surgeon at that hospital and he worked closely with him although he developed a special interest in urology. He was a much respected consultant surgeon and popular with his many colleagues. His wife, Joy, was a great support to him during his long illness and they had a daughter and two sons, one of whom is a general practitioner.