A world-famous pioneering West Midland surgeon who transformed the lives of thousands of children born with facial deformities has died aged 65.

Tony Hockley, who was married with three children, worked mainly at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the city’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the field of neurosurgery.

Described today as “adored” by his colleagues, he played a key role in the marathon 15-hour operation that separated three-month-old Siamese twins Eman and Sanchia Mowatt at the children’s hospital seven years ago.

Mr Hockley died on Sunday at his home in Edgbaston shortly after completing a game of tennis. His funeral, which was attended by around 500 people, took place the following day in accordance with Jewish tradition.

Adrian Williams, professor of neurology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said today: “We had been great friends after first meeting as registrars while working in Cambridge in 1975.

“He was the reason I came to Birmingham in 1981 about three years after him. His particular speciality was the treatment of children with cranio facial deformities and he was a leading world authority in that field.

Top orthopaedic surgeon Ronan Treacy, who helped develop the revolutionary Birmingham Hip procedure after training under Mr Hockley at the children’s hospital, said today Mr Hockley’s death came “completely out of the blue” as he was a keen sportsman.

“He saved many people with his skill as a neurosurgeon,” said Mr Treacy.

Mr Hockley, stopped operating around two years ago but continued to mentor surgeons and doctors under training at hospitals all over the country while finding time to do a law degree.