Born in Bromley, Kent on 12 May 1905, Gaffer, as he was always known, was educated at Brighton College and St Thomas's Hospital where he was to spend most of his professional life. The second son of a solicitor, perhaps the immense attention to detail which characterised his work was due to his earl

William John Ferguson spent his boyhood in Cumbria and from there went to London to study medicine at Guy's Hospital, qualifying MRCS, LRCP in 1929 and MB BS in London in 1931. He embarked on a surgical career at once, passing his Fellowship in 1932 and his London MS in 1933, for which he was awarde

Roland Maitland Alderton was born on 20 June 1902 in Hadleigh, Suffolk, son of David Simpson, a miller and corn merchant, and Margaret McLachlan, daughter of a clergyman. He was educated at Tonbridge School and the London Hospital, qualifying MRCS LRCP in 1930 and MB BS in 1931. After working as