The youngest son of the Rev Joseph Helm, Vicar of Worthing; educated at Marlborough College, then at St Catherine's College, Cambridge, where he took his BA degree as a Fellow Commoner in 1864. At the same time he became a pupil of Sir George Humphry, Surgeon to Addenbrooke's Hospital, for three yea

William Ilbert Hancock ('Bertie Hancock') was born at Wiveliscombe, Somersetshire, the ninth of ten brothers - two of whom became international Rugby football players, and the rest fine athletes - sons of William Hancock. He was educated at Dulwich College and Guy's Hospital, which he entered in 189

John Anthony Rumble was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Southend General Hospital. Before he attended medical school, Rumble carried out his National Service with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Hong Kong. He subsequently went to Sheffield University to study medicine, qualifying in 1955. He the

Douglas Arthur Langley was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Royal Northern and Whittington hospitals in London. He was born on 18 April 1917 at Woolwich, London, to Arthur Langley, an Army officer, and Laura Elizabeth née Webber. He was educated at Cottingham College, Plumstead, and Woolwich C

Desmond Peel Greaves was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at University College and Moorfields Eye hospitals in London. He was born on 14 December 1920 in the West Riding of Yorkshire to Bernard Peel, an optician, and Beatrice Peel. He was educated at High Storrs Grammar School, Sheffield, and then w

John Winstanley was an ophthalmic surgeon at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. He was born in London on 11 May 1919, the son of Bernard Joseph Winstanley, a captain in the Burma Sappers and Miners, and Grace née Taunton, the daughter of a solicitor. The younger of three sons, he was educated at Stoke Hou

Howard Fyfe Harper was a pioneering ophthalmic surgeon who worked in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. He was born in Te Kuiti, New Zealand, the son of William Stanley Blyth Harper, a chemist, and Esther Harper née Fortune, a schoolteacher. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School, but left early to

Born at Aston, Oxfordshire, in May, 1866, the son of the Rev George Sandham Griffith, who at a later date became Rector of Ardley, Bicester. John Griffith was educated at Royse's School, Abingdon, and under Dr Grove at St Ives, Huntingdonshire. In 1884 he began his medical training at St Mary's Hosp

The only son of George M Frean. He received his medical training at the University of Cambridge and at the London Hospital; was Surgical Clinical Assistant at the Evelina Hospital, and settled in Oxford (29 Beaumont Street). He was at one time Senior Clinical Assistant to the Oxford Eye Hospital, an

Walter Bain was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor. He was born in Ayr and educated at Loretto, Jesus College, Cambridge and Guy's Hospital. He qualified in medicine in 1942 and, joining the navy as a surgeon lieutenant, saw action in the Mediterranean and Far East.

Philip Neville Awdry was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at United Oxford Hospitals and Oxford Royal Hospital for the Blind. Born in 1933, he was the son of Neville John Awdry TD and his wife, Joan née Visger. Ophthalmologist to the Royal Commonwealth Society Blind Mobile Field Team, it is possible

The son of James Hartridge, of Yalding, Kent; educated at King's College Hospital, acted as Clinical Assistant at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, then as Assistant Surgeon to the Central London Ophthalmic Hospital. Afterwards he became Surgeon and later Consulting Surgeon to the Westminster Op