John Wellesley Evan Raine died recently aged 87. He was born in Wellington, educated at Scot’s College, and apart from time at Medical School and doing his surgical training he spent his entire life in that city.

Evan was descended from an old Wellington family of merchants.

He spent a year at Victoria University College before proceeding to Dunedin. He was a Blue at both hockey and golf.

He graduated in 1941, and after a year on the house at Wellington, he joined the RNZAF and served in the Pacific, notably at Guadalcanal and Bougainville. After the war he joined the Territorial Army, which he served in for many years, retiring as a Major.

During his time in the services he married Eleanor Luke who died in 1978. He subsequently married Pat Cryer.

After returning to Wellington with his Fellowship, he practised as a general surgeon advancing up the pyramid from junior consultant to become a senior consultant. He became Chairman of Surgical Staff in 1969.

After retiring from the hospital staff he continued in consulting practice and served as director of medical services for the Justice Dept and provided services to the Union Steamship Co, NZ Railways, and ACC. He enjoyed teaching, and remained an honorary postgraduate tutor in surgery for 20 years after he retired from the hospital.

Evan was awarded an OBE in 1980 and was elected a Fellow of the NZMA. He also had a long association with the Royal Australian College of Surgeons as an Examiner, including a term as President (1974–75). He devoted a lot of time to these roles.

Evan loved skiing and golf and was a devotee of classical music.

Surgeons worked hard, long hours and his family say that he was a doctor during the week and a father at the weekend. This was typical of the provider-father of his time. Fortunately, Evan had a long retirement in which he learned to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.