John Felix Bolton Carter was born in Leicester and spent his definitive surgical career in the city. His father had also been a consultant surgeon to the Leicester Royal Infirmary. He went to Rugby School before his pre-clinical training at Cambridge, proceeding to University College Hospital, and qualifying in 1943. Both house surgeon and house physician posts were spent at UCH. Serving as Surgeon Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the war, he first passed the membership examination of the Royal College of Physicians in 1946, three years before gaining his FRCS. His leaning towards surgery was apparent, and he became an assistant to the surgical unit at UCH. This was at a time when there were numerous people applying for surgical vacancies. Some of his earlier publications were on measures to reduce the incidence of thrombophlebitis during intravenous infusions. He also made some valuable comments on the management of varicose veins and Crohn's disease. He was appointed to the staff of the Leicester Royal Infirmary in 1957, and continued in this post for 27 years, being involved in administration as chairman of the staff committee. He had peripheral commitments at Rutland Memorial Hospital in Oakham. In addition to enjoying outside pursuits - sailing, fishing, farming and skiing - he served the local community as a magistrate for some 17 years. Bolton Carter was an active member of the '1921 Surgical Travelling Club', a member of the Association of Surgeons, and also a Fellow of the RSM. Early retirement was necessary because of the onset of multiple sclerosis. He died on 13 February 1997, after a prolonged period of ill health, leaving his wife, Josephine, a son and daughter, and two grandchildren.