Sol Cohen was born in 1904 in Cape Town where he gained his early education. He proceeded to the University of Cape Town, graduating BA (Honours) in 1923 and MA in 1925. He then entered Guy's Hospital Medical School for his clinical studies where his ability and innovative approach attracted the att

Hugh Owen Jones was a general surgeon in Cardiff. He was born in Monmouth on 12 May 1918 and brought up in a school house in the tiny village of Goytre near Pontypool, where his father, William Lewis Jones, was a schoolmaster. His mother, Rebecca Jane Jones née Davies, was a nurse. The toilet for bo

Ramesh Nigam was founder professor and head of the department of surgery at the Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, India, and a distinguished vascular surgeon. Born on 12 August 1920, his father had served in the Indian Medical Service, and then became professor of surgery at the King George's Med

David John Tibbs was a consultant general and vascular surgeon in Oxford who, during the Second World War, was awarded a Military Cross for his bravery on D-Day. He was born in Croydon on 10 March 1920, the youngest of three sons of Evan Llewellyn Tibbs, a city trader, and Mildred Ann Tibbs née Mund

Joseph Pett Turney was a consultant surgeon at West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, Cumbria. He was born in Hammersmith, London on 6 June 1918. His parents, Wilfrid Turney and Edith May Turney née Skinner, were both teachers. He had a brother, Wilfrid. Turney attended St Stephen’s Elementary School

Tom Nash was a seventh generation Australian of Irish extraction, born on the family property at Yass, NSW. He was educated at Christian Brothers Goulburn (Dux 1942) and Sydney University (1943-8, MB BS Hons 1). At St Johns College, University of Sydney, he excelled at rugby, cricket, swimming, divi

Charles Raymond Helsby was born on 13 February 1921 in St Helens, Lancs, the son of a local businessman, Frederick Johnson Helsby and his wife Emily, née Cawley. Following the local infant school he attended Merchant Taylors' School in Crosby and went on to the Liverpool Medical School. He qualified

Colin Skelton was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 31 March 1935 and educated at Christchurch West High School and Otago Medical School. After house appointments at Christchurch Hospital and Grey Hospital, Greymouth, he became surgical registrar at Christchurch Hospital and then came to England

Trevor Layzell was a general and vascular surgeon at Bishop Auckland General Hospital. He was born on 2 February 1949 and studied medicine at Newcastle University, graduating in 1972. He started his career at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, followed by a move to Sunderland Roya

Geoffrey Wilson, the son of Norman Wilson, a manufacturing mild owner, and of Gertie Wilson (née Green), was born at Silsden, Yorkshire, on 13 February 1923. He was educated at Keighley Boys' Grammar School and Leeds University Medical School, graduating with honours in 1947. He then served as house

Tony Chant was a consultant vascular surgeon in Southampton, Hampshire. He was born in Pembroke, West Wales. His father, Percival James Chant, was a Royal Air Force engineer who worked on Sunderland flying boats at the outbreak of the Second World War. He was then posted to Hitchin, Hertfordshire, w

Ralph Ronald Kendrick was born on 3 April 1915 in Camberwell, London, the only son of Samuel and Eleanor Kendrick. He was educated at Dulwich College and received his medical education at King's College Hospital, London, where, following graduation, he became house surgeon to Sir Cecil Wakeley. He t