Derek Ryder was born in New Plymouth in 1914. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and Rotorua High School where he was dux and had a distinguished athletic record. He trained at Otago University, qualifying MB ChB in 1938. As an undergraduate he played rugby for four years with distinction. He was appointed house surgeon at Ashburton Hospital on graduation and in 1940 became assistant medical superintendent at Nelson Hospital for a short time. He then served in the Pacific theatre with the medical corps and it was during this time that he operated upon Lyndon Johnson, later President of the United States. Subsequently he travelled to the UK where he tended New Zealand prisoners-of-war who were being transferred from Germany on their way home. On discharge from the Army in Britain, he studied surgery and took the FRCS England in 1946 and the Edinburgh Fellowship later in the same year. He was elected FRACS in 1958. He returned to New Zealand in 1947 and was appointed medical superintendent of the Buller Hospital, later transferring to Nelson where he became senior visiting surgeon and started a private practice in his specialty. Apart from surgery, Ryder made a great contribution to Nelson life. He was honorary surgeon to both the Nelson Jockey and Trotting Clubs and was a very able golfer. He did a great deal for the Crippled Children Society and was a past President of the Nelson Club. In 1942 he married Jean Washbourn. They had two sons and one daughter. He died on 7 March 1978, aged 64 years.