Eric Musard Nanson was born in Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand, on 4 January 1915, the youngest of five children of Gerald Bouchier Nanson, an Anglican vicar and Gertrude Florence (née Bell). His early education was at the Cathedral Grammar School, Christchurch and at Christ's College, Chri

Sir Andrew Watt Kay was regius professor of surgery at Glasgow and an archetypal Scottish academic surgeon. Known by surgical trainees worldwide through his book *A textbook of surgical physiology* (Edinburgh/London, E & S Livingstone, 1959), written with R Ainslie Jamieson, Kay stood alongside many

After qualifying MB BS at the University of Adelaide, Peter Christopher Manessis held a number of posts at the Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, ending as a surgical registrar 1966-67. He moved in 1968 to a similar post at the Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg, and in 1969 at t

Ian Hamilton was born in Kwai-Yuan, Anhwei, China, on 4 January 1930. His parents, Robert Sinclair Hamilton and Grace, née McGregor, went to China as missionaries in 1925. He went to school at Chefoo and on arrival in New Zealand aged six he could not speak English. He then went to Auckland Primary

John Masterton epitomised the term "canny Scot" and also adopted the Aussie characteristic of giving everyone "a fair go". The Royal Australasian College of surgeons has indeed been fortunate that John chose to spend the last 52 years of his working life since 1963 here in Melbourne. The College

Bryan graduated from Sydney University in 1961. He completed internship at Royal North Shore Hospital in that year. In 1962 he accepted his first appointment to Prince Henry, Prince of Wales Hospitals. These hospitals were to become his clinical home for his professional life. Like so many at tha

Barry Partridge was born in 1934 to Annie Louisa Johnson, a secretary, and Cyril Partridge, a builder. With a younger sister, Margaret, he spent the first 4 years of his life on the family farm in Ngaere, Taranaki. The family moved to Te Puke when he was four and he attended Te Puke Primary and High