Marshall Marinker published and lectured widely, contributing to the development of general practice theory, the methods and quality of clinical teaching and the shaping of health care policy. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Marinker was despatched to live in Bath, Somerset. He returned to live in North London in 1946. Two developments at this crucial stage shaped Marinker’s future life in medicine. In January 1965, he applied for a place to one of the psychoanalyst Michael Balint’s teaching-cum research seminars. Marinker came late and quite by accident to an interest in health service policy. It began in 1983 when he was invited to take part in a workshop, chaired by the economist Lord Vaizey, and including the chief medical officer and similar leaders of the profession. Later, Marinker was elected to The Northern Home Counties Faculty Board. Soon he was appointed its Honorary Secretary.