Born 10 April 1901, fifth child and fourth son of Alderman Thomas Willets Adshead, manufacturer, who was twice mayor of Dudley, and his wife Adeline Hand. He assumed the extra surname Barnie by deed poll. He was educated at Dudley Grammar School and Birmingham University, where he graduated in scien

There was always something of a military bearing about Alan Stammers. Handsome, upright, level-headed, he had an able and generous mind and was always to be counted on to do the right thing by his patients, his medical students, young aspiring surgeons and his colleagues. It was characteristic that