John Barnard Blaikley was born in Finchley on 21 September 1906. His father was a banker and Michael Faraday was his great grand-uncle. He was educated at Christ's College, Finchley, and Guy's Hospital, where he qualified in 1928, taking the FRCS in 1931, the MRCOG in 1933, and the FRCOG in 1944. Af

Arthur Joseph Wrigley (Joe) was born at Clitheroe, Lancashire, on 5 May 1902, the son of Canon Joseph Wrigley and after attending the Royal Grammar School, Clitheroe, and later Rossall School, he entered St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, qualifying in 1924. He gained a distinction in pathology in

Lionel George Higgins was born on 26 May 1891 in Bedford, son of Frederick George Higgins, a merchant. He was educated privately on account of juvenile rheumatic fever and went on to Clare College, Cambridge, and St Thomas's Hospital. He qualified in 1917, obtained his FRCS in 1920 and MD in 1956. H

Herbert ('Bert') Agar was born in Grimsby, Yorkshire, on 10 December 1907, the son of Herbert William Agar, a science teacher, and Catherine (née Agar, but no relation) who was the daughter of a joiner and shipyard worker. He was educated at Wintringham School, Grimsby, where he won a scholarship to

Trevor Lewys Stanhope Baynes was born on 19 February 1911 in Brockley, Kent, the only son of an insurance official, Evan Lewys Baynes and his wife Ethel. He attended Lewisham Park Preparatory School and Dulwich College, before becoming a medical student at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, winning

Barnett was born on 24 December 1909, and studied medicine at University College Hospital Medical School London, qualifying in 1932, and obtained his Fellowship in 1937. He decided to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology, becoming MRCOG in 1942 and FRCOG in 1956. He went to Shropshire as a co

Born on 25 October 1902 in Southampton, the third child of John Montgomery Beattie, a merchant trading in the Far East, and Ophelia Jane, née Hunt, 'JB' was educated at The Limes School Croydon, Westminster School, and Trinity College Cambridge. He entered St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1924 where he

Selby Tait was born on 9 December 1902 in Hexham, Northumberland, the son of James Andrew Tait, BA, a Congregational Minister, and his wife Anne Olene née Clemmetsen, who was Norwegian by birth. He attended the Dame School, Hexham, then the Lancaster Royal Grammar School, where he was awarded the sc

Keren Parkes was born on 18 December 1904 in Dulwich, the only daughter of Alexander Parkes, an accountant. She was educated at Streatham College for Girls, Somerville House, St Leonards-on-Sea and went on to King's College and King's College Hospital. At the age of twelve she decided that she wante

Philip Rhodes was born in Sheffield on 2 May 1922, the only son of Sydney Rhodes, an iron and steel merchant. His mother, Harriet May née Denniff, was the daughter of a butcher and farmer. He was educated at King Edward VII School, Sheffield, and Clare College, Cambridge, from which he went on to St

Kathleen Robinson was noted for her serenity, warm charm, wisdom and skill. These characteristics must have been largely inherited, but were nurtured in a happy family life that started on 25 May 1911 in Eccles, near Manchester. She was the third of five children, her father being a professional eng

Patrick Russell was born on 4 September 1907 in Trinidad, where his father Alexander David Russell was the first Puisne Judge. His mother's name was May Isabel McCallum. Educated at Rugby, he went to University College Hospital to study medicine, where he won the junior clinical surgery prize and th