Robin Downie was a consultant general surgeon in Liverpool. He was born on 2 May 1927 in Hightown, Merseyside, the son of a dentist. He was educated at Holmwood School, Formby, and Shrewsbury, where he excelled at sport. He then carried out his military service, during which time he took a six-month

John Coals was a consultant surgeon in accident and emergency surgery at Chester Royal Infirmary. He was born in Highbury, London, on 8 February 1930, the son of John Rueben Coals, a shipping agent, and Alice Maud Beatrice née Ensor. He was educated at St Andrew’s Church School and Enfield Grammar S

Paul Atkins was a consultant surgeon in Liverpool. He was born on 26 June 1933, into a musical family. His father George, known as 'Tommy', made and repaired church organs, including the one in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. His mother Dorothy was a dressmaker. As a student at King's College Hospit

John Robb was a consultant surgeon at Route Hospital, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. Born on 24 February 1932 in Downpatrick, County Down, he was the son of John Charles Robb, a general practitioner, and his wife Jessie Bannatyne née Wilson. Her father, a judge, had been the last Solicitor-General of

Robert Pringle was a consultant surgeon in Dundee. He studied medicine in Glasgow, qualifying in 1950, and, after house jobs, completed a four-year short service commission in the RAF, reaching the rank of squadron leader. On leaving the RAF, he specialised in surgery in Glasgow and Newcastle, and

John Eliot Trapnell was a consultant surgeon in Bournemouth with a special interest in the pancreas. He was born in Bristol on 25 April 1930, the son of Eliot Trapnell, a solicitor, and Ruth Manson Trapnell née Fells, a domestic science teacher whose father had been a medical missionary and a surgeo

Brian Pearson was a consultant general surgeon in Ilford, London. He could be described in terms of one of his interests: he was like a good wine, he improved over time. Unpretentious, with a soft trace of his Birmingham-derived accent, he had a sly sense of humour, and did not have all his other ma

Paul Rosswick was a consultant surgeon at St George's Hospital, London. He was born in London on 1 June 1932, the son of John Rosswick, an advertising director, and Phoebe Rosswick née Fagin, a housewife. He attended Malvern College from 1945 to 1950 and then studied medicine at London Hospital Medi

William (‘Bill’) Murdoch Lennox was a general surgeon based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He was born on 19 January 1930 in West Derby, Lancashire. His father was William Murdoch Lennox III; his mother was Dorothy May Lennox née Smith. He studied medicine in London and qualified in 1954. He ga

John Bridger was a consultant general surgeon in Stafford. Born on 2 September 1926, John grew up in Enfield, north London, where his father, George Bridger, was the superintendent of parks. His mother was Violet Millicent Bridger née Lee. He gained a scholarship to Enfield Grammar School and later,

Norman A Matheson ‘NAM’ was a consultant general surgeon at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Born on 26 March 1932 in Inverness, he was the son of Allan John Matheson and Margaret Ann Matheson née Mutch. He grew up on Avonside in the shadow of the Cairngorm Mountains and his early education was in Tomintou

David Sykes was a consultant surgeon at Walton Hospital, Liverpool. He was born in Staincliffe, West Yorkshire, on 28 July 1931. His mother’s maiden name was Riley. He was educated at Batley Grammar School prior to studying medicine at Liverpool University. He qualified in 1956 and in that year marr