Rudolph Blach was dean of the Institute of Ophthalmology, London, and a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital. He was the son of Hedwig Jeanette Blach, a nurse companion. She was originally from Germany, but became a British citizen in 1948, at the same time as her son. Blach stud

Wilfred Leach was an ENT surgeon in St Louis, Missouri, USA. He was born on 9 January 1929 in Rochdale, the son of Harvey Leach and Chrystal Leach née Lord. He was educated at Norden Church of England School and Rochdale Municipal High School. From 1947 to 1949 he carried out his National Service. H

Brian Sterry Ashby was born in Northampton on 28 August 1930, the son of Roland Sterry Ashby, an estate agent and auctioneer. His mother, Marion Elizabeth née Phillips, was a company director whose father and two brothers were all dental surgeons. He attended Waynefleet House primary school in Brack

Morris Hensman Heycock, or ‘Bob’ or ‘Bobby’ as his family, friends and colleagues knew him, was a consultant plastic surgeon in Hull. He was born in Dublin on 31 October 1928. His father, Morris Sadler Heycock, read natural sciences at King’s College, Cambridge and was a chemist before becoming head

Peter Rycroft was born in Bradford, Yorkshire on 11 October 1928, the elder son of Sir Benjamin Rycroft and his wife, Mary, née Rhodes. He went to school at St Piran's on the Hill, Maidenhead, and at Stowe, and from there proceeded to his National Service in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He continue