Eric Miles was immensely loved by patients and friends, having a successful general practice in Sutherland and also rooms as a paediatrician in Macquarie Street at a time when it was the custom to do so.

He was born in Yeoval, NSW, in 1900, one of four sons of a teacher father. He graduated in 1923 from Sydney University and served his residentship at Sydney Hospital where he was much influenced by Sir Herbert Maitland. Two years later he married Olga Rains Gregory. They had four children. At first he practised at Yeoval, then in 1930 moved to Sutherland and remained there until his death. He often said that he wished to die in harness and in his later years his house staff were aware that when he did his ward rounds he had the swollen legs of congestive cardiac failure. His principal hobby was his profession, so he practised for cruelly long hours. His rooms at Sutherland often went till midnight or beyond. He was up often at night doing house calls, and domiciliary midwifery was also part of his commitment. If there was time for a hobby it was his farm near Yass. Being born in Yeoval it was not surprising that he had a keen interest in farming.

His favourite saying was ‘All for one and one for all’. He was always even tempered, fair and understanding. He was an active member of the Church of England but respected all men of faith. When young he was a boxer but in later years, more a spectator though quite catholic in his interest in different sports. He knew his patients well. A modern paediatrician understandably would be more knowledgeable about medicine but probably would not be as knowledgeable about his individual patients. In every respect he was the essence of a good physician.