Brian Harcourt was born on 3 March 1934, the son of John Ellison Harcourt, a scientific instrument manufacturer in Liverpool and Bertha Florence Kneen. His grandfather, Richard Eugene Harcourt FRCS (1858-1921), was an ophthalmic surgeon, also in Liverpool. Harcourt was educated at Quarry Bank High S

Roy Mapstone was born in Wedmore, Somerset, on 15 May 1934, the son of an agricultural worker, and after early education at Wedmore Primary School and Sexey's Grammar School, Bruton, entered Bristol University, graduating in 1959. After house appointments he undertook National Service in Germany, Ni

Roy Dalgleish was a consultant surgeon at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1929 and studied medicine at the University of Witswatersrand, qualifying MB BCh in 1952. After junior posts in Johannesburg, he went to the UK for further postgraduate studies a

Michael John Gilkes was a consultant ophthalmologist at the Sussex Eye Hospital, Brighton. He was born in Montreal, Canada, on 31 August 1923, the only child of Hester Dene Aram Parker, a musician, pianist and singer. She later married Martin Heming Gilkes, an author and teacher, who had lost a leg

Iris Kane was born in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, on 22 November 1923, the only daughter of Michael Harry Kirkpatrick Kane, MRCP, and Winifred Alma Roworh, who was also a qualified doctor. She was educated until the age of eleven at the Roedean School, Johannesburg, at which she gained a scholarshi

John Romano was born on 24 May 1926 into a Jewish-Italian family in Cairo, where he was educated and subsequently qualified in medicine. His father Albert Romano was a barrister and his mother was Marie Afif. In Cairo he became fluent in English, French, Italian and Arabic, skills that he later used

Fred Hollows was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 9 April 1929, the son of an engine driver. After schooling in Palmerston North he entered the Church of Christ College of Otago University, intending to devote his life to the ministry. He changed his mind however and studied medicine, qualifying MB

Thomas Boyd was born in Glasgow on 7 June 1918, the son of Harold Arthur Boyd and his wife Edith, née Somerville. He was educated at Glasgow Academy. His father was chairman and director of the family engineering business, J & T Boyd Ltd., and Thomas went through an engineering apprenticeship from 1

David Malcolm Joseph Burns was born on 2 November 1927 in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. His father, David, was Professor of Physiology at Durham University and his mother, Clarice Margaret Dugdale, was a biochemist. He attended Newcastle Grammar School and studied medicine at Trinity College, Cambr

Roger Trimble was born in Holyhead, Anglesey, on 19 November 1946, the son of Henry John Trimble, a farmer, and his wife Barbara Margaret, née Gill, a writer. He was educated at Bristol Grammar School and Sheffield University, where he qualified in 1969. After a series of medical and surgical posts

Dhanwant Singh Grewal was a distinguished ophthalmologist in Punjab, India. He was born in Barnala, in the Punjab, on 3 November 1926. His father, Raghbir Singh, was medical officer to the royal family in Patiala, Punjab; his mother was Nihal Kaur. His younger brother became an ENT surgeon. He was e

Arne Christophe Andreas Hempel worked for many years as an ophthalmologist in clinics at the Westminster Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London. Born in Oslo on 6 May 1931, he was one of five children. He spent much of his early life in Dublin, where his father, Eduard Hempel, a career dipl