Alan Morgan was a general surgeon in Wellington from the 50's to the 80's. Alan was a true generalist and served the community well in this role. He remained a generalist in an era when sub specialist practice was slowly developing in New Zealand. He remained committed to the broad specialty of general surgery just as he remained a Wellingtonian from childhood to the latter part of his life. He was born in Kelburn, went first to Kelburn School and then to Wellesley College (at that time on the Terrace but later to move to Days Bay). Alan spent his secondary school years at Wanganui Collegiate and then sat his Medical Intermediate at Victoria University in Wellington. This was followed by time in Dunedin to complete his MB ChB (Otago). He excelled in anatomy during his time in Dunedin and discovered skiing for which he was awarded a blue by Otago University. He also made some lifelong friends in Dunedin, including Keith Ewan who was later to be Alan’s best man at his wedding to June. Keith was also to be godfather to Wayne, Alan and June’s first child. Alan returned to Wellington Hospital as a house surgeon after graduating from Otago. His next move was to London where he worked at Hammersmith Hospital where he worked in Professor Ian Aird’s department and studied for the FRCS (England). Having overcome this hurdle, he returned to Wellington, passed the FRACS in 1957 and was appointed as a 6/10th surgeon at Wellington Hospital. He served as a member of the Court of Examiners for the Part 2 FRACS. He had three children at this time (soon to be four) and the family initially in Homewood Avenue and later at Hatton Street in Karori. This was to be the Morgan family home for the next 35 years. In the latter part of his career Alan turned towards administration and served in the role of Medical Superintendent at Kenepuru Hospital in Porirua. He performed a number of locums including Tauranga Hospital and Grey Hospital on the West Coast. He loved being a surgical ‘Jack of all trades’ and Grey Hospital gave him the opportunity to practise in this way. The isolation of the West Coast meant that there were times when transfer to Christchurch was not possible either by air or road and serious clinical problems had to be treated on the Coast. Medicine was a passion for Alan and the many hours he put into it were at times a cost to his family. He would have been thrilled if he had known that his grandson Tom, was programmed to start his training as a general surgeon on the day of Alan’s funeral. Tennis, golf and skiing were all major interests which he pursued well into his 70’s. He was a talented golfer who had a handicap of 5 or 6 in his heyday and in due course was made a life member of the Royal Wellington Golf Club. In addition, he was a talented pianist and artist and enjoyed building and design projects either on his house in Karori or the family holiday home at Hautape. Alan, known by his colleagues as ‘Taffy’, was well liked by family, friends, patients and colleagues. His son Wayne, stated that Alan sought to in still the following values in his extended family; quiet determination, patience, thoughtfulness, and putting others before self. Alan died on the 30th November 2011 at Malvina Major Hospital after a long battle with a chronic debilitating illness. His memory will inspire all who knew him.