Sir Eardley Lancelot Holland had been senior obstetrician and gynaecologist to the London Hospital for 20 years. In 1943 he was elected the fifth President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. His academic achievements were many and deservedly he was regarded as one of the most

Born on 4 September 1880 eldest of the two sons and two daughters of Samuel Johnson (1846-99), Medical Officer of Health for Stoke-on-Trent and Julia his wife, daughter of James Webb. Mrs Johnson died only in 1931; her children had all adopted her maiden surname, Webb, before their father's name. Dr