Peter John Ryan was a pioneer in colorectal surgery. He was born, the eldest of four boys, on 25 November 1925 in Dookie, Victoria, Australia, to farming parents. He was dux of Assumption College, Kilmore, and then went on to study medicine at Melbourne University. He graduated in 1948 and was a res

Charles Mann was a consultant surgeon at St Mark's and the London hospitals. He was born in Hampton, Middlesex, on 2 March 1928, the son of Charles Mann, a company director in the City of London, and Hilda Ella Mann née Bramley. At one stage there were 11 doctors in his immediate family, including t

Tony Cawkwell was born in Auckland and educated at Auckland Grammar school. At an early stage he showed great scholastic and athletic ability, and when seventeen he also became an Associate of the London College of Music. In 1933 he commenced the study of medicine at Otago University and joined f

Roy Lawrence Willis Fink was born in Ballarat on 27 April 1938. His father was a state school headmaster and the family moved between various country towns, including Learmonth, Yea and Benalla, before moving to Ferntree Gully and subsequently Bentleigh. His early years were influenced by World War

Bernard Hand was born on 21 November 1919. His father, Ernest Francis Hand, was an architect and his mother, Mary, née Searle, was the daughter of an engineer. He was descended from Sir William Hillary, founder of the lifeboat service; as a consequence he gave constant support to the RNLI throughout

Lawrence Herbert Hansen was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1929 and after early education at Palmerston Boys' High School entered the University of Otago Medical School, qualifying in 1955. After early hospital appointments in Wellington he came to England to work as surgical registrar at

Robert Thorlakson was a leading Winnipeg surgeon. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the son of Paul Henrik Thorbjorn Thorlakson, a physician and chancellor of the University of Winnipeg, and his wife Gladys. Robert and his twin brother Ken were raised and educated in Winnipeg. Thorlakson served dur

Jim Guest died peacefully in Melbourne on 20th January 2015, during his 99th year. He had a distinguished career in surgery, medical education and civilian life. Jim was born in Mildura, the only child of Edith and James. His early education was at Mildura West State School and subsequently Geelong

Born on 10 January 1942, Gerhard Rudolf Jatzko was a Professor of Surgery in Klagenfurt, Austria and an expert in gastric and colorectal cancer. He was awarded the FRCS *ad eudum* in May 2000 and sadly died, aged 60 years, in (or around) June 2002.

Fred Collins was born in 1933, in Australia. His father was Frederick Herbert Collins, his mother Stella Anne Crollick. After junior posts at St Vincent's Hospital, he came to England to specialise in surgery. He returned to St Vincent's in 1961, as a general surgeon, his particular interest being c

Jeremy Wilson was a consultant general surgeon at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup. He was born on 27 January 1932, the youngest child of Charles Paul Wilson and Margaret Fraser Wilson née Cameron. His early education was at Moffats School and Bryanston, before going up to Downing College, Cambridge in

Randolph Gilbert Beard, known as 'Randy', was the consultant surgeon in charge of the rectal department at Guy's Hospital, London. He was born on 13 August 1926 in Aldershot, Hampshire, the son of Randolph Beard, a major in the Grenadier Guards. Randy's demeanour reflected this background in no smal