Abdelaal Abdalla Osman was head of the department of surgery at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. He was born on 30 December 1930 in Omdurman, Sudan, the son of Abdalla Osman, a businessman, and Fahima Osman née Zeinelabdin, a housewife. He attended Bakht Elruda Primary School, Elduem Rural Interme

Francis Edwyn Swinnerton Keiller, known as 'Frank', was a senior consultant surgeon in the Royal Air Force, retiring with the rank of wing commander. He was born on 20 July 1927 in Nottingham. The family name was originally 'Killer' but, as he writes, he 'changed to Keiller on taking up medicine'. H

Clara Zilahi was a surgeon in Wisbech, Great Yarmouth and Lincolnshire, a campaigner against reform in the Catholic Church and a director of the pressure group Railfuture. She was born in Vienna, Austria, on 22 May 1927, the only child of Ladislaus Zilahi and Agnes Paula Zilahi née Beke, devout Cath

Meyer John Lange, known as ‘Nick’, was a consultant surgeon at New End and Royal Free hospitals, London. He was born on 5 August 1912 in Worcester, South Africa, the second son of Sally Lange, a government contractor, and Sarah née Schur. His older brother also became a doctor. Nick studied at Worce

Colin Clement Ware was a consultant general and vascular surgeon to the Southend-on-Sea Hospital Group, Essex, from 1971 to 1992. He was born in Barking, East London, on 16 July 1932. His father, Albert Ware, was an electrical engineer, and his mother, Annie Jelley, had been employed in the Post Off

Dewi Wyn Owen was a consultant surgeon in Carmarthen, Wales. He was born and brought up in Caernarfon in a Welsh speaking community. He received his primary and secondary education in the Caernarfon area, firstly at the National School and then, in the fifth year, at the Sir Huw Owen Grammar School.

Arthur Hargreaves was the lead consultant general surgeon for Salford hospitals and a lecturer in surgery at the University of Manchester. He was born on 9 June 1934 in Darwen, Lancashire, the son of Percy Walsh Hargreaves, an engineer and general manager, and Lillie Kendall Hargreaves née Muir. He

Geoffrey Greatrex was a consultant general surgeon at Mansfield General Hospital and King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. He was born in Halstead, Essex on 3 March 1933, the son of Harold Victor Greatrex and Henrietta Florence Greatrex née Wake. Geoffrey lived most of his child

Bob Zollinger was born on 4 September 1903 in Millersport, Ohio, and received his medical education at the State University, graduating MD in 1927. He spent his intern appointments at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston and in 1929 married Louise, who gave him tremendous support throughout his