David Allen Crockford was born on 21 August 1930 in London. The son of Allen Lepard Crockford, CBE, DSO, MC, TD, MA, MB, BCh, MRCS, LRCP, late Brigadier, RAMC, and then Hon Surgeon to King George VI and HM the Queen. His mother was Doris Ellen, née Brookes-Smith. His early education was at St Pirans

Alastair Smellie was a much respected consultant general surgeon to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, with breast and endocrine specialist interests, a lecturer at the university and for many years a senior examiner for final MB BChir examinations. He was born on 17 May 1933 in Woking, Surrey, int