Colin Teasdale was a consultant general surgeon at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. He was born in Leeds on 26 June 1945 to Alan Wainwright Teasdale and Eva Teasdale née Rowley He had an older sister, Jean, who trained as a dietitian, and a younger brother, Eric, became an occupational medicine consultant. Colin’s father was a school teacher and headmaster; both of his grandfathers were coal miners. He initially attended local infants and junior schools, then moved to two grammar schools – Normanton Grammar School from 1956 to 1961, followed by Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield from 1961 to 1963. He entered the London Hospital Medical College in 1963, having won the Price entrance scholarship and the Edith Forbes memorial scholarship. During his time at the London, Colin took an intercalated BSc degree in anatomy, achieving a first-class honours degree in 1966. He then qualified in 1969 and undertook a house surgeon role at the London Hospital. Following his post as a house physician in Bath, Colin returned to the London to demonstrate anatomy and take the primary FRCS examination, which he successfully passed at his first attempt. After a series of senior house officer posts, including one at St James’ Hospital, Balham, Colin joined the surgical registrar rotation in Southampton, passing the FRCS examination in 1974. At St James’ he worked for Andrew More ‘Dan’ Desmond, whilst in Southampton he came under the influence of Sir James Fraser and John Atwell. Colin developed an interest in cancer biology, particularly breast cancer, whilst undertaking research for his MS thesis at the Tenovus Institute for Cancer Research in Cardiff. His work, supervised by Leslie Hughes, had examined the effect of immune competence on breast cancer and in particular the role of T- and B-lymphocytes. Although B-cells were shown to be normal in breast cancer patients compared to a control population, there was a highly significant depression of T-cells in all cancer patients except those with stage three disease. However, routine tests of immune competence such as total white cell count, lymphocyte counts, serum immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte transformation along with delayed hypersensitivity responses were shown to have no predictive value. Colin also evaluated the possible role of serum beta-2 microglobulin and found that levels were raised in cancer patients compared with controls, those patients with advanced cancer having the highest levels. Colin’s senior registrar posts were based in Bristol. Having previously undertaken a locum post, he was appointed as a substantive consultant general surgeon in Plymouth in 1984 and took on a very wide range of both emergency and elective surgical conditions. His calm considered manner in treating complex problems under demanding circumstances was an important feature, along with his surgical skill, that ensured good patient outcomes. Colin authored several publications covering a wide range of surgical conditions such as breast, oesophageal, renal, bladder, colonic and anal tumours, along with both benign and malignant biliary obstruction, the latter being published in the *Annals* of Royal College of Surgeons of England (‘Should endoscopic stenting be the initial treatment of malignant biliary obstruction?’ *Ann R Coll Surg Eng*l. 1992 Sep;74[5]:338-41). He was also involved in and reported on randomised clinical trials including antibiotic prophylaxis of surgical wound infections and comparison of local and general anaesthesia in inguinal hernia repair. Colin was always trying to improve the service that could be offered to patients, one example being the introduction of laparoscopic surgery. The trend towards such minimally invasive surgery accelerated in the early 1990s with the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The first such operation in Plymouth was performed jointly by Colin Teasdale and his colleague, Colin Brown. Although the procedure took several hours, the careful technique ensured that the operation was successfully completed and led to widespread adoption of the technique in Plymouth. At this stage laparoscopic surgery was about to expand enormously, eventually encompassing a very wide range of surgical operations. Colin was also enthusiastic about training and teaching, taking on the responsibilities of surgical tutor and both organising and delivering successful teaching sessions for the surgical trainees. As the NHS Breast Screening Programme launched in the late 1980s, Colin was tasked with developing the surgical aspects of the screening service in Plymouth and the surrounding areas. This proved a great impetus to develop the sub-specialty of breast surgery. Colin also was acutely aware that from the patient’s point of view the clinical service for breast patients at that time was geographically rather dispersed within the hospital. The breast service needed to be more patient-focused and have a ‘one-stop shop’. Colin was instrumental in planning what was to become the Primrose Centre at Derriford Hospital and worked tirelessly, not just on the proposed development, but also the associated funding that was needed. After its launch in 1997, the Primrose Appeal successfully raised over £500,000 and the Primrose Centre opened at Derriford Hospital in 2001, providing a purpose-built environment for one-stop breast clinics. Unfortunately, Colin was unable to work in the new facility as his ill-health due to multiple sclerosis forced him to retire from clinical duties. However, he soon became a trustee of the Primrose Foundation, the natural successor to the Appeal. As such he was able to continue to contribute to the further development of the Primrose Centre, the Foundation providing much needed money for both additional staff, new equipment and better facilities. Over the last few years, the Primrose Foundation has raised approximately £50,000 per annum and it will continue to be a lasting tribute to Colin in the years to come. Colin had had a keen interest in various sports including rugby, football and golf and also enjoyed walking. When his mobility was impaired as a result of his deteriorating condition, he enjoyed playing bridge to a very high standard. He married Ann Smethurst, who had trained as a nurse at the London Hospital, in 1969 and they subsequently had two children, Benjamin, who studied medicine at the London Hospital like his father and is an emergency medicine consultant in Leicester, and Rebecca, who trained as a solicitor. Colin Teasdale died on 8 April 2023 at the age of 77.