John Beverley King studied medicine at the London Hospital Medical College and graduated MB, BS in 1967. During his orthopaedic training at the London, he was also attached to the knee unit at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital for a time. Later he obtained a fellowship to study in France with one of the then foremost knee surgeons in the world, Professor Albert Trillat of Lyon. He passed the fellowship of the college in 1973 and in 1977 was appointed senior lecturer ir orthopaedic and trauma surgery to the London Hospital Medical College and honorary consultant in orthopaedic and trauma surgery to the London Hospital and Newham Health District. A pioneer in the field, he founded the diploma course in sports medicine in 1981 and eventually the department evolved into the Centre of Sport and Exercise Medicine at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. For many years it was the only place to offer a course on that specific topic. During his time there John introduced many innovative techniques such as, in 1987, carrying out the first arthroscopy of the ankle with his former PhD student. He continued in post until 2001 and was given an honorary professorship of the Centre in 2011. A leading member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine, he was awarded the Sir Roger Bannister Medal for Lifetime Services to Sports and Exercise Medicine. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a member of the International Knee Society. After retiring to Thurlestone, near Kingsbridge in Devon, he died from complications following aortic aneurism surgery on 6 October 2018 aged 74. He was survived by his wife Deidre, children Polly and Toby and grandchildren, Tom, Jessie, Ben, Jamie and Sam.