Herbert Spencer was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, on 8 February 1915, the son of Hubert John Spencer, a coat manufacturer, and his wife Edith Maude, née Lodge. His early education was at Highgate Junior and Senior Schools, and he entered St Mary's Hospital Medical School for his medical studies, wh

Sir Henry Yellowlees was Chief Medical Officer for England from 1973 to 1983. He was born on 16 April 1919 in Edinburgh, the son of Sir Henry Yellowlees, a psychiatrist, and Dorothy Davies, a cellist. He was educated at Stowe and University College, Oxford, but deferred his medical training to join

Stanley Miles was born on 14 August 1911 in Sheffield the son of Thomas Currier Miles, a company director and his wife Florence Edna, née Law. He went to school at King Edward VII School before entering Sheffield University, where he qualified in 1936. After house appointments in Sheffield he joined

Sir John Peel was perhaps the most celebrated obstetrician and gynaecologist of his era. Born in Bradford on 10 December 1904, he was the son of the Rev J E Peel. From Manchester Grammar School he went to Queen’s College, Oxford, going on to his clinical studies at King’s College Hospital where, aft

Robert Brash Wright was born on 1 March 1915, the second son of Dr Hugh P Wright. He was educated at Hamilton Academy and the University of Glasgow and early showed the ability which was to distinguish him later by gaining many prizes and awards. He took the BSc in 1934 and qualified MB ChB with hon

Julian Bloom was born in Sheffield on 30 June 1923 and moved to London at the age of seven where he was educated at the Fleet School, Kilburn, and the Regent Street Polytechnic. In 1942 he entered Middlesex Hospital Medical School and in 1946 was student house surgeon to Lord Webb-Johnson, Sir Eric