John McNeur was born on 12 July 1919 at Whakatane, New Zealand, the son of William McNeur, a Presbyterian minister and his wife Annie, née Clarke. He was educated at Otago Boys' High School and Otago University Medical School in Dunedin, where he qualified in 1943. After house appointments in Dunedi

David Bolt was a former President of the BMA. He was born in Llandaff, Glamorgan, on 21 September 1921. His father, Ernest Albert John, was a clerk in holy orders. His mother was Hilda Irene, née David. After Queen Elizabeth's Hospital School, Bristol, Bolt won a city senior scholarship to the Unive

Wilmot John Tresize was born on 10 October 1915 in Christchurch, New Zealand, the son of Alfred Joseph Tresize, a carpenter, and his wife Eileen Gladys Cole, née King. He was educated at West Christchurch District High School, which he represented in the First XI at cricket. He matriculated at 15 an

Lindsay Black was superintendent of the Westland Hospital, New Zealand, and orthopaedic surgeon to all the west coast hospitals on the South Island. He was born in Auckland on 20 November 1914, the third child of Wilfred Alick Black, a solicitor, and Linda née Culpan. He was educated at King's Colle

Terence McSweeney (always known as Mac) was born on 30 October 1920 in Youghal, County Cork, Eire. He was educated at Presentation College, Cork City, and University College, Cork, Medical School where he qualified with honours in 1943. His future career in orthopaedics, and particularly the treatme

Lynton McHardie Berry was born on 19 August 1922 at Wellington, New Zealand; his father was Leonard James Berry, a business manager, and his mother was Gertrude Elaine Lawry, the daughter of a Minister of Religion. He was educated at Hataitai School, Rongatai College, and then entered Victoria Unive

John Oscar Reginald Stewart, known as ‘Oscar’, was one of three general surgeons serving the whole of Lincolnshire from Lincoln County Hospital in the days when no government targets had to be reached and, as a result, waiting lists were small. He was born in Belfast on 2 November 1922. His father,

Appointed to a consultant post at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, in 1957, Norman Slade's professional career as a urologist was distinguished by many valuable contributions; his publications invariably concluded with a pertinent, practical message. His initial studies focused on postoperative urinary

Eric Meyer was born in London on 2 July 1918 the son of Reinhard Carl Johannes Meyer, an ophthalmic surgeon and Fellow of the College, who moved to South Africa in 1920, and his wife, Phyllis, née Bagshaw. He was at King Edward's School in Johannesburg before entering the University of Witwatersrand

Duncan Forrest was a distinguished member of that first generation of paediatric surgeons, most of whom trained at Great Ormond Street in the early years of the National Health Service, who pioneered specialist surgical units in children’s and in general hospitals across the country. Later in life h

Harold John Hambury was born of Jewish parents on 8 December 1910 in the German city of Stargard, Pomerania. He studied medicine at Heidelberg, Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, where he qualified in 1934. Owing to Nazi persecution he went to England in 1937 with little money and little knowledge of Engl

Mason was born in Kimberley of British immigrant parents in 1912, did his schooling at Kimberley Boys' High and went on to study medicine at the University of Cape Town. While there, he played water polo and swam for the university, and, being an accomplished pianist, played at the college dances. H