John Ball was a true general surgeon, having spent his entire consultant career in practice on the isolated Scottish island of Skye, where he established a first-class surgical reputation, as well as becoming a much loved and hugely respected local figure. His reputation on the island was such that

George Haines Dickson was born on 18 June 1936. He studied medicine at London University and trained at St Mary’s Hospital, graduating MB, BS in 1959. In 1964 he passed both the fellowship of the college and of the Edinburgh College of Surgeons. After house jobs at St Mary’s he was appointed consult

Philip Zachariah was born on 23 September in Bengal, the son of Kuruvila Zachariah, who was an historian, and his wife Shanti née Dey. He attended Bishop Cotton School in Bangalore and then studied medicine at the Madras Christian College, graduating MB, BS in 1960. He worked for a time at the Chris