Kenneth James Grice was the son of James and Margaret Grice of Brisbane, Qld, on 23 March 1915. He was educated at Brisbane Grammar School. In 1941 he married Dulcie, daughter of Mr and Mrs E Olsen of Brisbane. They had a son and a daughter. He commenced first year in 1934 at the University of Queensland. He was determined to do his medical course at Melbourne University. He was accepted in 1935 and living alone in Melbourne this year was a busy one. He had to complete some first year subjects and also his second year. He achieved this with distinction and was an apostle in physiology. In this third year he gained the exhibition in anatomy and was elected to join the clinical school at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. His brilliance continued and he was proxime accessit in final year, gained the exhibition in obstetrics and gynaecology, first class honours in medicine and second class honours in surgery.

He was a junior resident at Royal Melbourne Hospital in 1940 and was house physician to Dr Stewart Cowen and house surgeon to Sir Alan Newton. This was first class training and he made the most of it as he was to enlist in the AAMC Second AIF at the beginning of 1941. He was poster to the 2/11 Field Ambulance Ninth Division in the Middle East. He served in the desert campaign including the battle of Alamein. He was mentioned in dispatches. On returning to Australia he was posted to 2/7 Australian General Hospital in Lae. In 1944 while on leave he sat and passed the examination for admission as a Member of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. On discharge from the army in 1946 he was appointed an honorary physician to outpatients at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

During 1946 to 47 he was in London on a Nuffield Travelling Fellowship for ex service doctors to undergo specialist training. He chose the rapidly expanding specialty of cardiology and carried out his postgraduate year at the National Hospital for Diseases of the Heart and the cardiac unit at London Hospital. He was taught by leaders in cardiology of that time, Sir James Parkinson and Dr Paul Wood, who were at the forefront of the rapid developments in cardiology in the nest ten years. On return to Melbourne at the end of 1947, Grice commenced practice as a physician and cardiologist in Collins Street and as an outpatient physician at Royal Melbourne Hospital. He was also appointed a visiting physician to the Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg, an appointment he held until his death. Many veterans were deeply appreciative of his professional skill and his kindness to those who came through his ward.

In 1952 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and in 1965 a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London. As a visiting physician to outpatients he had an excellent reputation for his teaching ability and patient care. In 1953 he was promoted physician to inpatients and continued this role until 1969 when his term expired. Over these years he made further overseas tours. In 1960 he went to India as a Colombo Plan Fellow to advise on the development of cardiology. At the same time he visited England, Russia and the United States. In 1969 he was awarded a Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Travelling Fellowship by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians - visiting Europe, Great Britain and the United States of America.

Ken was an excellent clinical teacher for undergraduates and it was his finest role. He took a keen interest in the standards of student teaching, particularly at the bedside. He was always very interested in teaching methods and the curriculum. From 1959 to 1965 he was honorary dean of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical School and was chairman of the Board of Studies. In 1966 he was appointed associate dean (clinical) of the Faculty of Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and continued in that position until February 1979, when he retired due to ill health. Over this period he was a member of the Faculty of Medicine of Melbourne University and was chairman of the board of studies of his own clinical school. He had considerable influence over the years and his guidance was always wise. Over many years he devoted his time to expanding the teaching in the clinical school and in that time sat on twenty-two committees related to these interests in the Hospital and University, including the vice chancellor's committee for hospital/university liaison.

In his role he had the opportunity to counsel students and graduates and they were grateful for his kindness, the wisdom of his advice and his understanding of their problems. Many will look back gratefully for his help in their developing years as physicians and medical practitioners. He donated a prize in clinical medicine for fourth year students. As a cardiologist he naturally took an interest in the National Heart Foundation and was a member of the board of directors of the Victorian division of the Foundation. He was also a consultant to the Work Assessment Centre and a member of the education committee.

Ken was highly respected by his fellow staff members and by the profession at large in Melbourne and Australia. He was always reserved and his great love was fly fishing. He retained his interest in music and was a constant reader. He was devoted to his wife and family. He continued to visit Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital until the last few months of his life and he died on 5 September 1980 as a patient in the hospital.