Roy Hough was born in Christchurch and attended Christchurch Boys High School. On leaving school he worked in the Meteorological Service and then studied Science at Victoria University, majoring in Physics, and graduating BSc in 1942. He served in the Navy in Radar during the war.

In 1963, Roy was seconded to Princess Margaret Hospital and subsequently was appointed there as Pathologist in charge, doing the anatomic pathology and running the cytology service, as well as overseeing the other pathology departments

In 1972 he was appointed to Green Lane Hospital which was a General Hospital with major Cardiothoracic and ENT surgical units. He took sabbatical leave to study in Chicago, San Diego and the Walter Reed Hospital Washington. He continued to work at Green Lane Hospital until his retirement in 1985. The following two years he worked in a private laboratory in Singapore, followed by several shorter locums in Dunedin and Townsville.

Roy was a quiet, conscientious, methodical, thoroughly competent and meticulous pathologist, much appreciated by the surgeons with whom he worked. He was steady and reliable in his diagnoses, was very supportive to registrars and taught a good practical approach to histopathology and a few useful histopathology “tricks”.

Roy was very pleasant to work with, well disposed to all and liked by all including medical colleagues, scientific laboratory staff and registrars. Never impatient with interruptions, Roy was always gentle, helpful and patient. He had a “low key” approach, was helpful without being “pushy”, was not given to excesses of any kind, and was not known ever to raise his voice in anger.

Within the department he had a calming influence, always taking a cautious approach when others tended to be more vocal or impetuous. His wry sense of humour was evident to those with whom he worked and there was often a twinkle in his eye when he was correcting some junior pathology registrar. He didn’t waste time in small talk but had a very good general knowledge.

In his spare time, Roy was a keen sailor. In 1977 he was due long service leave and took delivery of a 9.2 metre yacht hull and decks, and finished off the boat including plumbing, wiring and interior teak woodwork making a wonderful job of it. The family spent many happy times sailing in it on weekends and holidays. His other outdoor pursuits included tramping and skiing. He enjoyed gardening, reading and travel.

Roy was a member of the New Zealand Medical Association for 50 years, and was also a member of Probus, Forest and Bird Society, and U3A.

In 1958 he married Jenny Maitland and is survived by her and their three children: David, a radiologist at the Mayo Clinic; Nicola a qualified Food Technologist in Auckland; and Nigel, who is a vet in the UK.

Roy died on 24 November 2011 after a long illness. He will be remembered as one of our profession’s true gentlemen.