Robert Rihan was a consultant surgeon at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield. He was born on 22 October 1927 in Birmingham, the son of Alexander Rihan, a general practitioner, and Ruby Lillian Floyd. He attended Edgbaston preparatory school and, during the war years, Rydal School, Colwyn Bay. In 19

Newton, who spent much of his career in the Royal Army Medical Corps in which he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, received his medical education at Manchester, graduating MB ChB there in 1952. Having held registrarships at the Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute, Manchester, he was la