Anthony John Woolf was born in London on 5 June 1925. He was the son of Alfred Woolf, a businessman, and his wife Daisy née Wollman. After attending Haberdashers Askes School, he studied medicine at London University and trained at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School, graduating MB, BS in 1956. At St Mary’s, he recalled, his memorable tutors were Arthur (later Lord) Porritt and Douglas MacLeod, the obstetrician and gynaecologist. He passed the fellowship of the college in 1959. Appointed a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Hackney Hospital, he was also a recognised teacher by the University of London and lectured at St Bartholomew’s Medical College. He was an examiner for the London MB, BS, the MRCOG and also, at the college, for the conjoint examination. Between 1949 and 1951 he did his national service serving with the RAF. At that time he enjoyed playing rugby and then continued to play tennis and golf. He shared his wife’s love of music and especially opera. He met his wife, Helene Valerie Goodman (Paddy) when they were both studying for the primary examination at the college in 1952. They married and went to Glasgow to sit the exam where she passed and Anthony failed. She passed the fellowship of the college in 1962 and became a consultant rheumatologist at the St Stephens, Westminster and Royal Marsden Hospitals. They had two daughters, Serena Jane and Caroline Rosemary and a granddaughter, Antonia. Valerie died in 2010, suffering the after effects of a violent holdup and car hijacking while they were on holiday in South Africa. Anthony died on 15 April 2021, aged 96.