Rudolph Blach was dean of the Institute of Ophthalmology, London, and a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital. He was the son of Hedwig Jeanette Blach, a nurse companion. She was originally from Germany, but became a British citizen in 1948, at the same time as her son. Blach stud

Peter Choyce was a leading ophthalmic surgeon who championed and developed artificial lens implants. He was born on 1 March 1919 in London. His father, Charles Coley Choyce, was professor of surgery at University College Hospital, and a member of Council at the time of his death in 1937. His mother

John Cogan did his medical training in Manchester and then specialised in ophthalmology, doing his training in the United Liverpool Hospitals and the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke on Trent. He was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Chester Royal Infirmary and the Wrexham Hospital Group,

Paul Folca was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Torbay Hospital, Devon. He was born on 29 July 1933 in Cheltenham to Joseph and Cecilia Folca. His father had trained as an ecclesiastical joiner and worked at the renowned furniture design company Gordon Russell. During the Second World War, he work

John Dobree was born in Woolwich on 25 April 1914, the son of Hatherley Moor Dobree OBE, a civil engineer, and Muriel née Hope. He was educated at Victoria College, Jersey, and St Bartholomew's Hospital, where he qualified in 1938. He was house physician at the Metropolitan Hospital and the Western

Humphrey John Anthony Hahn was an ophthalmic surgeon. He studied medicine at London University and qualified MB BS in 1948 passing the conjoint examination in the same year. At St George’s Hospital he did house jobs in ophthalmology and also at the St John Ophthalmic Hospital in Israel. Joining th

Abraham Werb was a surgeon in the corneo-plastic unit, Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. He was born on 1 April 1919 in Lithuania, the son of Maurice Werb and Pia Werb née Frumer. His family was Jewish, and he spent much of his childhood trying to avoid being harassed by the anti-Semitic loca

John Ayoub was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the London Hospital, a former Vice-President of the Faculty of Ophthalmologists and a College Council member. He was born on 7 September 1908 in South Kensington, the son of Moussa Ayoub, the celebrated portrait painter, who painted the Council in 19

Charles Brown was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon in Bristol. He was born in Aberdeen on 10 July 1915 into a medical family - his father, John Brown, and uncle were both general practitioners, both his sisters married doctors, one sister and a daughter became nurses, and his son-in-law was professor

John Richard Havers-Strong, generally known as Richard Strong, was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Conquest Hospital, St Leonards-on-Sea. Educated at Oundle School and Queens' College, Cambridge, where his father had attended 30 years previously, Richard became energetically involved in rowing, c

Ron Lowe was consultant ophthalmic surgeon to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. He was born in Melbourne on 14 November 1913, the third son of William E Lowe, a contractor, and Isabella née Hinde. He was educated at Wesley College, Melbourne, and qualified as a pharmacist at the University o

Bryan Cruickshanks was an ophthalmic surgeon in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. He was born in Wallsend, Northumberland on 11 October 1935, the second child of William Blackwood Cruickshanks, a tradesman in the shipyards, and his wife, Jesse Cruickshanks née Brown. He excelled at Wallsend Grammar School an