Gaston Benett was born on 12 November 1922 in Poudre D'Or, Mauritius, the son of Raymond Benett, a hospital pharmacist, and his wife, Suzanne, née Davis, a teacher. He attended the Royal College in Mauritius from where he won a scholarship to Cambridge for his pre-clinical studies. He then entere

William John Dickson Bradfield, or ‘Bill’, was a consultant surgeon at Kingston Hospital in Surrey. He was born in London on 23 June 1924, the only son and second child of John Ernest Bradfield, a businessman, and Marjorie Elizabeth née Dickson, the daughter of a silk merchant. Bill was educated at

John Bridger was a consultant general surgeon in Stafford. Born on 2 September 1926, John grew up in Enfield, north London, where his father, George Bridger, was the superintendent of parks. His mother was Violet Millicent Bridger née Lee. He gained a scholarship to Enfield Grammar School and later,

Kenneth Marrable Bryant was an honorary consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St George’s and Bolingbroke hospitals, London. He was born on 13 June 1927, the son of Philip Harry Bryant and Hilda Gertrude Bryant née Linch. He studied medicine at King’s College London and Charing Cross Hospital Medical Sc

'Tony' Buckle was born in Yorkshire and educated at Holgates Grammar School, York. In 1944 he enlisted in the RAF but the war ended before he completed his training as a pilot. He was released and began his medical career at Guy's Hospital, graduating in 1950. He received the Golding Prize Medal and

John Ian Burn was a consultant general surgeon at Charing Cross Hospital, London. He was born on 19 February 1927 and grew up in Ilford, northeast London. His father, Cecil Walter Burn, was orphaned as a small boy, fought and was wounded in the First World War, and then worked as a civil servant for

Patrick James Chesterman was born in Hillingdon on 15 June 1928, the son of G.H. Chesterman, and after early education at Gunnersbury Roman Catholic School entered St Mary's Hospital Medical School in 1944 at the unusually early age of sixteen. During his student days he captained the medical school

John George Corson was a colorectal surgeon at Sunderland Royal Hospital. He was born on 30 November 1926 in Fareham, Hampshire, the youngest son of Eric Reid Corson, a naval officer, and Marjorie Miller Corson née Winants. He was educated at Wixenford School in Wokingham, West Downs School in Winch

Robert Qualye Crellin, or 'Robin' was a consultant surgeon at King's College Hospital. He was born on 31 May 1927, on the Isle of Man, the son of John Frissel Crellin, a company director, and Eileen Flood Jackson. He went to King William's College on the Isle of Man, and then to St Mary's Hospital M

Eric Ralph Davies, the son of Henry William Davies, a master printer and bookbinder, and of Louise Matilda (née Court), was born at Thornton Heath, Surrey, on 22 October 1908. He was educated at Steyning Grammar School, Sussex, and at Guy's Hospital where he won a scholarship and the Lubbock Prize f

Louis René De Jode was born on 29 November 1926 in East Ham, London. He was the son of Louis Guillaume De Jode and Germaine, née Tavernier, who left Belgium during the first world war. His father set up practice in the East End, where he became a much loved and respected family doctor. Louis always

James Keith Ross was a leading cardiac surgeon, and one of the team that performed the first cardiac transplant in Britain. He was born in London on 9 May 1927. His father, Sir James Paterson Ross, was later to become professor of surgery at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Surgeon to the Royal Household