Born on 18 July 1899, the eldest son of James Diggle, builder, and his wife, *née* Fitton. He was educated at Rochdale Secondary School, and after serving as a combatant in the first great war he went into business. Feeling a vocation for medicine he entered Liverpool University Medical School, and

'Mac' Crooks was born on 21 January 1909, the son of David Mackenzie Crooks. He was educated at Epworth College and studied medicine at Liverpool University, where he qualified in 1931. He held junior posts at the Northern Hospital, Liverpool, and at the Shropshire Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry. He