Joseph Harris obtained a BSc (anatomy honours) in London in 1958, qualified with the Conjoint Diploma in 1961 and the FRCS in 1970. He studied at University College and University College Hospital, London, and there became lecturer in surgery and honorary surgical registrar. He had also worked as re

Mervyn Bell was consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Wigan from 1977 to 2004. Born in Hove in 1937, he qualified from Guy's Hospital in London working in the fields of general surgery and neurosurgery. On developing an interest in orthopaedics he moved to the Royal Free Hospital and the Nuffield Orthop

Michael Aidoo was born in Mpohor, Ghana on 11 February 1935. His father was a farmer. He was educated at St Augustine's College, Cape Coast, Ghana, and the University College of Gold Coast. He attended King's College, London and the Westminster Medical School. He died on 22 December 1975. He had one

Allan Isadore Friedmann was a consultant ophthalmologist at the Royal Eye Hospital. He was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on 15 June 1916 to Joseph and Matilda Friedmann. His father was a pharmacist. He was educated locally at Grey College School in Bloemfontein, matriculating with first class

Born on 19 January 1935, Manohar Rajani qualified in Bombay and after junior posts went to England to specialise in surgery. After passing the FRCS he did a series of training posts, before going to Canada in 1965, where he passed the Canadian FRCS and settled down in practice in Toronto. He died on

Hugoe Matthews was an eminent thoracic surgeon who was an expert on the diseases of the oesophagus; he was also an authority on the Victorian nature writer and mystic Richard Jefferies. He was educated at Sutton County Grammar School where, even as a teenager, he knew he wanted to be a surgeon. He q

William James Dempster, known as ‘Jim’, was a transplant researcher and surgeon at St Mary’s Hospital, London. He was born on the island of Ibo, north of Madagascar, on 15 March 1918, although his birth was not registered until 28 April and his birth certificate was not issued until 9 August of that

Henry Byrne was an orthopaedic surgeon in Melbourne, Australia. He was born in Ballarat, Victoria, on 15 August 1932, the eldest of five children of Henry Byrne, a grazier, and his wife Martha. He was educated at Ballarat State School and Ballarat College, before studying medicine at the University

John Moore was a consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon in the Chelmsford Hospital Group and to the Regional Orthopaedic Centre, Black Notley, from 1967 to 1994 and, on retirement, an honorary consultant to the Mid-Essex NHS Trust. Born on 10 October 1929, he went to preparatory school in Lytham

James Bankes was born in Romiley, Cheshire, on 10 March 1935, the son of Reginald and Alice Bankes, who were both pharmacists. He was educated at King's School Macclesfield, King Edward VII School, King's Lynn, and the City University, London, before entering St Mary's Hospital Medical School where

Margaret Witt was a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the North Middlesex Hospital, London. She was born on 14 June 1930 in Leyton, London, the oldest daughter of Henry Witt, a chauffeur, and Bertha, a lady’s companion until she married. Margaret won a state scholarship to Walthamstow Cou

Patrick Kevin Coakley was born on 19 December 1928 at Bantry, County Cork, Eire. He attended Blackrock College, Dublin, and studied medicine at the University of Cork, qualifying in 1952. After the surgical rotation he passed the FRCS in Ireland. In 1955 he was appointed to a short service commiss