Noel Kirkman was born in Boothroydon, near Blackpool, on 11 March 1911, the son of William Harold Kirkman, the owner of a small wrought iron works, and Lavinia, née Fereday, one of whose ancestors was Samuel Day Fereday, a general surgeon in Dudley, Worcestershire (1800-1874). He was educated at Wes

Duncan Davidson Cranna, son of Robert Cranna MB, ChB Aberdeen 1901, of Bolton, was born on 24 June 1909, and was educated at Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh, and at Manchester University. He graduated MB, ChB in 1934 and obtained the Conjoint Diploma in the same year. His interest in orthopaedic surger