John Herbert Harker Webster was a consultant surgeon in Southampton. He was born in Heswall, Cheshire, on 2 October 1929, the son of Herbert Webster, a biscuit manufacturer, and Doris Louise née Harker, the daughter of a chandler. In 1935 the family moved to Prenton in order to be near to Birkenhead

Terence Young was a consultant surgeon in the Peterborough area. He was born in India in 1931, where his father was a missionary surgeon, but grew up in north Wales. As a boy he started hill walking, encouraged first by his father and later by the headmaster’s secretary at his school, Rydal in Colwy

Denis Shaw was a consultant surgeon at Keighley and Airedale. He qualified at Leeds in 1940, having represented the Combined English Universities at fencing, and taking his turn at fire-watching. He always remembered watching bombs dropping on the City Museum. After house jobs he joined the RAMC, ri

Tom Brennan was a general surgeon in Leeds and an outstanding trainer, both of medical students and postgraduate trainees. He was born in Dundalk and graduated from University College Dublin in 1962, before going to England to specialise in surgery. After junior posts in London he became a registrar

David Annis was a consultant surgeon at Liverpool's Royal Infirmary. His father was a Polish Jew who emigrated from England to Canada and served with distinction in the Canadian Army during the first world war, being decorated for his conduct at Vimy Ridge. After the war, he returned to England to s

The younger son of George James Guthrie (q.v.) by his first wife Margaret Paterson, daughter of the Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward's Island. He was educated at the Westminster Hospital, where he was elected Assistant Surgeon in 1843 on the resignation of his father in his favour. He became Sur

Born in Lincolnshire; entered St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1871 and distinguished himself there, gaining the Foster Prize in 1872, being Brackenbury Medical Scholar in 1875, and Kirkes' Scholar and Gold Medallist. He was House Surgeon to G W Callender (qv) in 1875 and House Physician to Reginald Sou

The fourth son of William Keate, D.D., rector of Laverton, Somerset; was born at Laverton on March 14th, 1777. John Keate, his elder brother (1773-1852), was the well-known and ferocious head master of Eton. Robert Keate was educated at Bath Grammar School until 1792, when he was apprenticed to his

Tom Rowntree was a consultant surgeon in Southampton. He was born at 9, Upper Brook Street, London, W1 on 10 July 1916. His father, Cecil Rowntree, was a consultant surgeon at the Cancer (now Royal Marsden) Hospital, London, and held several other honorary posts in and around the city. His mother wa

Lived in Cheltenham, where his practice was extensive, and throughout his whole career he deservedly retained the respect and love of a very large circle. He was appointed Surgeon to the Cheltenham General Hospital in 1825, and held the post for thirty years. Severe illness compelled him to withdraw

Anthony Stedman Till, known as ‘Tim’, was a consultant surgeon in Oxford. He was born in London, on 5 September 1909, the eldest son of Thomas Marson Till OBE, an accountant, and Gladys Stedman, the daughter of a metal broker in the City. Tim was educated at Ovingdean Hall, Brighton, and Marlborough

Lord Smith was one of our great presidents. Successive holders of that office have faced many and various challenges, but by any measure the confrontation between the Labour government and the BMA from 1974 to 1975 was a major crisis that threatened the future of consultant practice. Rodney Smith, a