Gordon Heard was a consultant surgeon at the University Hospital of Wales and a former president of the Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. He was born on 23 February 1926 in Rhiwbina, Cardiff the second son of Albert Heard, a geologist at Cardiff University; his brother, Brian,

Leonard Easton was an obstetrician and gynaecologist at the London Hospital. His background was unusual. His parents, Leonard Tytherleigh Easton, an elderly insurance broker, and Maria Bertrand Easton née de Lis met in Japan and he was born in Tientsin, China, on 11 July 1921. His education at Harro

Harold Frank McGhie Bassett was born in Klang, Federated Malay States, on 4 June 1923, the son of John Harold Bassett a barrister-at-law and County Court Judge and Leila, nee McGhie. He was educated at Harrow School where he obtained an entrance exhibition before entering St Thomas's Hospital Medica

Arnold Levene was a pathologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital who developed the technique of frozen section, meaning tissue samples could be analysed during operations. He was born on 7 December 1924 in Kingston upon Hull, the son of Solomon Levene, a Polish immigrant who became a commercial travell

Ian Macfarlane, the son of James Macfarlane and Islena, née Cromarty, was born on 8 September 1925 in Uckfield, Sussex. He was educated at Seafield Park, Fareham, Hampshire, and received his medical training at the Middlesex Hospital. After qualifying in 1948 he held an appointment as casualty offic

Dennis Walder, professor of surgical science at the University of Newcastle, was a leading researcher in the field of decompression sickness ('the bends') and hyperbaric medicine. Surgery as a specialty has always been encompassed by wide boundaries, but Dennis' research must surely rank as a topic

Ian Sutherland Midsom Jones, or 'S-J' as he was always known in the hospital, served as a consultant surgeon to the Plymouth hospitals from 1959 until 1986, but continued in active surgical practice after retiring from the NHS, working in Singapore for 10 years. Ian was born in 1922, in Bassingbourn

Nigel Porter was a much-admired consultant general surgeon with wide surgical interests, working first in London, where he trained, and then in Sussex. He was born on 19 February 1925 in Ross-on-Wye, the son of George Harry Porter and Elma Blackhurst. He attended school in Ross-on-Wye, and then stud

Richard Pryer was born on 20 September 1924. After education at St Peter's School, York, he entered the London Hospital and graduated in 1947. After serving as house surgeon at the London Hospital he was appointed resident surgical officer at Tindal General Hospital, Aylesbury, in 1948. The followin

Bill Southwood was born in London on 8 June 1925, the son of Stuart Walter Southwood, a dental surgeon, and Mildred Mary, the daughter of an heraldic stationer. He was educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Cambridge, before going on to Guy's in 1945. He qualified with a gold medal in obstetr

Francis Davies was born at Cardiff in June 1914. He was educated at Llanelly County School, and Pagefield College, Swansea, and entered the London Hospital Medical School in 1936. He gained a prize in clinical medicine, and qualified with the Conjoint Diploma in 1940. After house appointments at the

Michael Anthony Brennan, usually known as Joe, was born on 8 September 1925 in Manchester. He was the son of Thomas Edward Brennan, manager of Finnigan's of Deansgate, Manchester, and Frances, née Mahon. He was educated at St Joseph's School, Moss Side, and Xaverian College, Victoria Park, under its