James McIvor was director of radiology at Charing Cross Hospital, London and head of the radiological service at the Eastman Dental Institute. He was born on 23 September 1936 in Glasgow, the son of James McIvor and Anne Donaldson McIvor née Hunter. He had an identical twin brother, Donald. He was educated at Glasgow Academy and then studied dentistry at Glasgow University, graduating with his BDS in 1958. After qualifying as a dentist, he put himself through medical school in Glasgow, gaining his MB ChB in 1963. He was a house surgeon and house physician at Glasgow Royal Infirmary before moving to London, where he trained in radiology and was a registrar in diagnostic radiology at King’s College Hospital. Aswell as his posts at Charing Cross and the Eastman, he had a radiology practice in Harley Street. He was an outstanding teacher, was the author or co-author of more than 50 papers and contributed to several textbooks on cardiovascular, interventional and dental aspects of radiology. He developed demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, which led to progressive paralysis. McIvor died on 26 July 2004 at the age of 67. Previously married and divorced, he was survived by his two children, Martin and Claire, and twin brother.