Gerald De Lacey was born 2 December 1910 at Dowlais in South Wales and did his preclinical studies at the University of Wales, going to the London Hospital in 1930. He was surgical dresser to Sir Henry Souttar, Alan Perry, Russell Howard and George Neligan, and clinical clerk to Sir John Parkinson a

Hugh Cecil Fletcher-Jones was born in Yung Ping Fuh on 26 February 1911, the third son of Dr Arthur Fletcher-Jones who was, for 20 years, a medical missionary in China. He was educated at Monkton Combe School in Bath and qualified MB BS in 1935 at the Westminster Hospital, did his residency there an

John Spencer-Bernard was born on 26 May 1907 in Ootacamund, India, the elder son of Sir Charles and Lady Edith Spencer. His father was ICS Puisne Judge of High Court of Judicature, Madras, while his uncle A J Spencer was editor of the standard textbook *Landlord and tenant*. It was in 1955 in relati