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

Samir Kumar Biswas was born in Khatura, a village in the Nadir district of West Bengal on 1 July 1929 and was educated at the St Xavier's College and the Medical College, Calcutta. He was always a meritorious student and graduated in 1954 and passed DOMS of Calcutta University in 1956. He then went

Tom Casey was born on 8 October 1929 in Limerick, the son of Michael Casey, a farmer. He was educated at University College, Dublin, and after specialising in ophthalmology became registrar first at the Westminster Hospital and later at Moorfields. He possessed a happy combination of inspiration, su

Arnost Hirtenstein was born in Slovakia in 1909 and qualified MD in Prague in 1934. After military service during which he developed an interest in ophthalmology he entered general practice in a small town in Northern Bohemia but after three years, in 1939, he was arrested by the Gestapo and forced