Geoffrey Fleetwood Walker, a consultant at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children in Carshalton, London, and Epsom District Hospital, was a distinguished orthopaedic surgeon and dedicated educator. He was born on 27 November 1927 in London into a family steeped in the traditions of medicine. As a third-generation doctor, his grandfather, Harold Albert Walker, and father, Harold Fleetwood Walker, both had successful careers in general practice. His mother was Audrey Victoria Walker née Borsdorf, and her side of the family was equally distinguished: her father was Friedrich Adolph Borsdorf, a German-born horn player, a founding member of the London Symphony Orchestra and a professor at the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music. This rich musical heritage sparked Geoffrey’s lifelong love of classical music, and he regularly attended orchestral concerts, operas, theatre and other live entertainment throughout his life. Educated at Highgate School, Geoffrey’s early years were marked by the upheaval of the Second World War, during which he was evacuated to Devon with his school. His passion for learning and helping others was evident from an early age. After his school years, Geoffrey pursued training in medicine, graduating with an MB BS from the University of London, Middlesex Hospital Medical School in 1951. Following his graduation, Geoffrey served as a house surgeon at Middlesex Hospital, where he developed his skills in surgery. In 1951, he was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps for his National Service, rising to the rank of temporary major. His service saw him stationed across the globe, including nine months aboard a troopship with trips to Port Said and Japan, where he assisted in the repatriation of troops following the partition of Korea. In 1954, Geoffrey was awarded a Fulbright scholarship, which took him to Stanford University in California, where he worked as a surgical intern and anatomy lecturer. It was during this period that he was introduced to his future wife, Sally Halcrow. The couple married in 1955, before returning to the UK to continue their professional lives. Geoffrey’s career turned towards orthopaedics when in 1958 he began training at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London. He earned fellowships from both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in the same year. His training included a transformative period spent in Nigeria, where he worked from 1960 to 1962, including as a lecturer at the University of Ibadan. This experience was foundational, shaping both his medical philosophy and commitment to international education in orthopaedics. Following his appointment in 1965 as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, he worked primarily at Epsom District Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children, Carshalton and he moved his family to Epsom, where he remained for nearly 30 years. He was also a senior lecturer at St George’s Hospital Medical School, where for more than 15 years he played a significant role in the development of clinical research within the hospital’s orthopaedic training scheme. During this time, he published over 40 scientific papers, contributing to the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge. His dedication to the field of orthopaedics continued to extend beyond the borders of the UK. Geoffrey was actively involved in several international initiatives, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. He made multiple teaching visits to Nigeria and Bangladesh, where he helped to structure and develop orthopaedic training programmes. His work in Bangladesh was particularly impactful, where he contributed to the establishment of a university-approved orthopaedic training scheme in Dhaka. To this day, more than 450 Bangladeshi orthopaedic surgeons have been trained through the programme, with about 90% continuing to work within Bangladesh. Geoffrey’s humanitarian work was not limited to his teaching in developing countries. He was deeply committed to improving access to quality healthcare in some of the most underserved regions of the world. His contributions to orthopaedic education were recognised with multiple awards, including life membership of the Bangladesh Orthopaedic Society and the Golden Apple Award from Health Volunteers Overseas in 2006. In 2008, he received the Arthur Eyre-Brook Medal from World Orthopaedic Concern in recognition of his educational contributions, particularly in Ethiopia. In the 1990s, Geoffrey’s work extended to Cambodia and Laos, where he helped develop orthopaedic training programmes despite the challenges posed by political instability. His work with World Orthopaedic Concern also included founding and editing its newsletter, as well as serving as the secretary general and later president of World Orthopaedic Concern International. His involvement in the organisation spanned over four decades, during which time he became a respected voice for the global advancement of orthopaedics. Geoffrey’s commitment to teaching and mentoring never waned, even as he neared retirement. After retiring from the NHS in 1988, he served as a professor and head of the orthopaedic department at the Black Lion Teaching Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, through the British Council. He continued to teach at the hospital well into his eighties, making regular trips back to Ethiopia even after his formal retirement from active clinical practice. Geoffrey’s expertise, coupled with his warmth and dedication to his students, endeared him to countless colleagues and students across the globe. He was also an active examiner for several universities and orthopaedic boards worldwide, including in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Libya and the University of Liverpool, where he contributed to the development of postgraduate orthopaedic education. Outside his professional achievements, Geoffrey enjoyed a variety of interests. A keen horse rider, he owned a horse for 15 years and became an assistant instructor of the British Horse Society. He also taught riding at various international embassies, including the British, German and Italian embassies in Addis Ababa. Geoffrey’s love of horses extended to his involvement with the Medical Equestrian Society. Besides riding, he maintained an active interest in keeping fit, running the London Marathon in 1983, only hanging up his running shoes at the age of 88, whereupon he moved to a stationary bike for the remainder of his life. Geoffrey was a proud father to two children, Timothy and Jennifer, and a doting grandfather to four grandchildren – Jeremy, Oliver, George and Alice. He was known for his intellectual curiosity and lifelong passion for learning. Even in his later years, Geoffrey remained deeply engaged in global health discussions and continued to attend meetings relating to orthopaedics, sports medicine and general health issues. Geoffrey died on 19 August 2025 at the age of 97. His enduring legacy will be that of a compassionate educator, a pioneering surgeon and a global ambassador for better healthcare. His children, grandchildren, numerous colleagues and students will forever cherish his memory. He will be remembered as a man of profound integrity, boundless generosity and exceptional skill. His influence on the field of orthopaedics and on the lives of those he mentored will continue to resonate for years to come.