Bryan Hudson was born in Melbourne in November 1923. His father Edward Hudson was a barrister, later a judge of the Victorian Supreme Court; his mother's maiden name was Jean Wright. He was educated at Geelong Grammar School and graduated from Melbourne University after a shortened wartime course. He was first in his year with the exhibitions in medicine and obstetrics. From 1946 to 1948 he was resident at the Alfred Hospital Melbourne, and contemplated a surgical career. Instead, he chose medicine obtaining the MD and MRACP in 1949. After a year in pathology at North Western Medical School Chicago, and two years on a Nuffield scholarship at St Mary’s Hospital in London with Professor Sir George Pickering, he returned to the Alfred Hospital in 1952. As a research fellow at the Baker Institute he pursued an interest in endocrinology obtaining his PhD for the study of melanocyte stimulating hormone. At the same time he developed a clinical endocrinology service at the hospital, and in 1956 was appointed physician in charge of clinical studies at the newly opened Diabetic and Metabolic Unit.

In 1958, with three young children, he made a career determining and courageous decision to spend two years as a fellow in steroid chemistry in the department of biological chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and returned to the Alfred in 1960. In 1962 he was appointed foundation professor of medicine at Monash University based at Prince Henry’s Hospital where he was the initial honorary director of the Medical Research Centre. He rapidly attracted physicians and research workers to form an excellent department, and working in association with John Coghlan and others, established one of the first methods to measure testosterone in plasma, in 1963. This group were also the first to demonstrate that testosterone was produced elsewhere in the body than from the testis. The endocrinology of the pituitary-testicular axis remained his major research interest and in 1972, believing he had made his major contribution to the University, he resigned from his position as Professor at Monash University to become senior NHMRC research fellow and associate director of the Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne. He remained there until 1982 actively pursuing the biology, measurement and isolation of the previously only conjectured hormone inhibin. This work over ten years was carried out in close association with Henry Burger and other members of the Medical Research Centre at Prince Henry’s Hospital. In 1983 he took up the position of Medical Director of the Royal Southern Memorial Hospital at a time when it was beset with difficulties and held this position until his retirement five years later.

Throughout his medical career Bryan Hudson was vitally interested in teaching. He was a sharp and acute diagnostician and an inspiring, if at times intimidating, teacher of both undergraduates and postgraduates. He was elected member Councillor of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1957 and served on committees for Council of the College almost continuously until his Presidency concluded in 1984. He made many outstanding contributions to the RACP. In particular, after visiting Canada in 1967 as Sims Travelling Professor, he was the initiator and chief protagonist of the radical review of the membership examination of the College, which culminated in the present examination, advanced training and accreditation system. He was Chairman of the Accreditation Board 1972-77, Vice President 1977-80,then President of the College 1982-84.

He also served on many other Australian and international committees, including Councillor of the Endocrine Society of Australia, 1961-68 and President, 1966-67, member Executive Committee, International Society of Endocrinology, 1972-80 and President, 1980-84. During this time he convened the organising committee of the international meeting of the society held in Melbourne in 1980. He was an invited speaker on many occasions, and his unique ability and contributions were recognised where he was appointed AO in 1985 and awarded the MD, honoris causa, by Monash University in 1991.

Internationally, he was honoured by the awards of Honorary Fellowships of the American College of Physicians in 1975, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1981 and Honorary Membership of the Academy of Medicine of Singapore in 1982. He was one of the first specialist physicians who founded endocrinology as a discipline in Australia. His example of combining rigorous research with clinical care and teaching inspired many others, particularly in Melbourne where he co-founded the Victorian Endocrine Group, which provided a stimulus to both aspiring and established endocrinologists. His scientific contributions are recorded in many publications.

Bryan Hudson was an unforgettable personality, shortish and square, with a characteristic bow tie, he often presented a pugnacious front, which served him well in discussion. This sometimes hid the deep concerns he had for both clinical and research colleagues and students, all of whom he treated with genuine interest and generosity. His intellect and capacity for work and organisation were enormous, as was his ability to get the best out of associates and staff. He could be brusque to the point of rudeness, particularly faced with cant or stupidity, but considerate and helpful to honest triers. In his presidential closing address in 1984 he was pleased to include the establishment of this College Roll as one of his achievements for posterity. He was gregarious, and from his student days enjoyed both a good joke and a party, with an infectious chuckle and a love of fine wine, music and literature. A very competent golfer and formidable opponent he held the offices of both captain and president of the Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne. He had a lifelong love of fly-fishing and the relaxations of the Howqua River.

Bryan married Norma Mitchell, a nurse, in 1947, and they had one son and two daughters. His son Richard Hudson is currently Director of Medical Services of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Before and after his retirement in 1987 Bryan suffered painful illnesses. These became progressive with an obscure gradual destruction of the lumbar spinal cord and a period of confusion following a previously unrecognised reaction to the use of LHRH for prostate cancer. He could no longer play golf or fish, and his life and mobility were very limited. Norma and his daughters Mandy and Leigh supported him, with humour and encouragement, throughout this long and frustrating illness. He remained alert, interested in and critical of the events of both the medical and wider world and retained his own sense of humour until his death.