Reza Larizadeh was born on 28 August 1934 in Ahraz, Southern Iran. He came to England and studied at the Edgbaston School of Science and the University of Wales. In 1958 he took the Conjoint Diploma and the MB BCh and the FRCS in 1962. Before returning to Iran he held appointments at Cardiff, Sheffi

David Negus was a consultant general and vascular surgeon at Lewisham Hospital, London, and a pioneer in the newly emerging sub-specialty of phlebology. He was born on 11 August 1930 in London, the son of a distinguished otolaryngologist, Sir Victor Ewings Negus, and his wife, Winifred Negus née Ren