Former Hamilton barrister Kenneth Wardill, who died on 26 November 2001, was unusual in that he came to the law late in life after a long career in medicine.

Born in England on 16 September 1927, he was educated at Dulwich College, London, Lodge School, Barbardos and Upper Canada College in Toronto, Canada. He took his medical degree at the University of Durham in 1950, was a Qualified Service Pilot in the RAF from 1951 to 1954, before becoming a lecturer in anatomy at the University College of London from 1954 to 1955 and Assistant Professor in Anatomy at Dalhousie University in Canada from 1956 to 1957.

He was Director of Medical Services at Wellington Hospital from 1970 to 1974 before moving to Hamilton to become consultant surgeon at Waikato Hospital from 1974 to 1993 and in the 1980s he took up the study of law – travelling to the Auckland law school to attend lectures. Not satisfied with a bachelor’s degree, he went on to complete an LLM while still working at the hospital. He then worked with David Wilson QC at his chambers in Hamilton from 1993 to 1996.

He moved the admission of two of his daughters – Susan and Jennifer – who followed him into law. A third daughter, Patricia, is in practice at Whangaparaoa.

This obituary was first published in LawTalk 580, 15 April 2002, page 13.