Frank Robinson, the son of a general practitioner, was born in Bolton in 1914. There had been doctors in every generation of the family since 1800. After graduation from Manchester in 1940 he was called up for service in the RAMC, first at Aldershot and later at Baguley Emergency Medical Service Hos

Chandra Pal de Fonseka was an accident and emergency surgeon in Bristol. He was born in Panadura, Ceylon, on 22 December 1919 into a family with many medical connections. His grandfather and two uncles were medical practitioners. His father, Hector Clarence de Fonseka, was a landowner who managed hi

William Burnett was born on 23 March 1921 and educated at Ballater and Banchory Schools on Deeside, Aberdeenshire. He entered Aberdeen University in 1938 and graduated in medicine with first class honours in 1943. He then spent a year as an assistant with Professor R D Lockhart in the University of

Born in Gateshead on 23 January 1915 the eldest son of Thomas John Frederick Herbert, an engineer and his wife Edith, nee Ironsides, he was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the Medical School, Durham University, graduating MB, BS, in 1939. During his student days he was

Andrew Robinson was born at Astley Bridge, Bolton, Lancashire, on 17 December 1920. He was the second son of Dr Frank Robinson who was himself one of five brothers who became medical practitioners. They were the fourth dynasty of a long line of medical men with its roots in the eighteenth century. B

Kenneth McKeown was born on 31 October 1912 in Belfast. His father, Robert James McKeown, was a linen manufacturer and his mother was Sarah, née Owen. He received his medical training at the Royal Academical Institute in Belfast, and at Queen's University, where he achieved distinctions in anatomy a

David Macfarlane was a consultant general surgeon at Sutton and Cheam Hospital and at St Stephen's and Princess Beatrice hospitals in the Westminster group, and also an author and outstanding teacher. He was born in Glasgow on 21 June 1921, the only son of George Souttar Macfarlane, a consulting eng

Pieter Van Miert was born in Ireland and educated in Dublin at the Catholic University School and at University College where he graduated MB with first class honours in 1943. He immediately joined the RAMC and served in England and India till the end of the second world war in 1945. During the next

Desmond Dawes was born in Ryton-on-Tyne, County Durham, on 28 December 1923, the third son of Joseph William Dawes, a general dealer, and Margaret, née Dodd. He was educated at St Cuthbert's Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne, and the University of Durham, qualifying MB B S in 1945. After Junior

Will Davey wrote the first textbook on surgery in tropical countries. He was born on 28 February 1912 in Dunmurry, near Belfast, in Northern Ireland. His father, Robert, was a minister of religion. His mother was Charlotte née Higginson. One of a family of five, he studied medicine at Queens Univers

James Kennedy Watt, the son of a general practitioner, was born close to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on 30 August 1921. After education at the High School of Glasgow he went to Glasgow University where he had a distinguished undergraduate career, gaining the James Hunter Medal in pathology and gradu

William Burnett was born in London on 14 March 1906 and received his medical education at University College Hospital. As a student he won exhibitions in pathology and biology. After qualification in 1929 he took resident appointments at Portsmouth Hospital, and then settled in general practice at R