James Percival Ainslie will long be remembered for the prominent part he played in the establishment of the clinical school in the University of Western Australia, and in the foundation of the Advisory Medical Council for Australia. Ainslie was born in Perth, Western Australia, on 14 August 1899 and went to the Hale School where he distinguished himself as an all-rounder at games as well as work. In 1918 he entered the science faculty of the University of Western Australia, then in the sixth year of its existence, and as the first year's work there was acceptable for entry to the medical course in the University of Melbourne he continued his studies there, a resident in Trinity College, and graduated MB BS in 1923. He was already showing unusual ability, for in addition to being an honours course student he played cricket for his College, and was secretary of the Medical Students' Society. He took the MD in 1924 and became Superintendent of the Melbourne Hospital in 1925. Having held that post for a year, he came over to England and obtained the FRCS in 1927. It was anticipated that he would then return to his hospital in Melbourne, but after much anxious deliberation he decided to go back to his home town where he set up in practice and was appointed surgeon to out patients at the Royal Perth Hospital in 1928, being promoted in-patient surgeon in 1935. By the rules of the hospital the in-patient appointment was limited to 15 years and so he had to retire in 1951. Ainslie had always shown a special interest in neurosurgery and in 1948 he spent some time at Oxford with Hugh Cairns, as well as visiting other specialist centres in the United Kingdom. On his return to Perth a department of neurological surgery was instituted under his leadership and he was able to remain in charge of it till his final retirement in 1959. He was an outstanding teacher, but in addition to his clinical and teaching duties he devoted an astonishing amount of time and energy to administration concerned with the Hospital, the University Senate, and the establishment of professional standards throughout Australia. He was prominent among the small group of clinicians who strove for many years to establish the clinical school in the University of Western Australia, which was finally achieved in 1955. He was a keen supporter of the Western Australia Branch of the BMA and was its President in 1941, Chairman of the State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and for years was President of the Medical Board of Western Australia. For his many services to medicine he received the honour of the CMG in 1962. James Ainslie was a friendly person who found time for recreation in the local golf club and he also played tennis and bowls. He loved his home and enjoyed welcoming visitors from near and far. In 1930 he married Jean Clemons and they had one son and two daughters. When he died in 1973 his wife and family survived him.