Gordon Stephen Willetts was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at York District Hospital. He studied medicine in Birmingham, qualifying in 1956. He decided to become an ophthalmic surgeon, gained his diploma in ophthalmology in 1958 and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1966. He died

John Cockin was born at Halesowen, Worcestershire, on 18 November 1932, the son of John Edward Cockin, an engineer, and Mary Green, the daughter of a farmer. From Halesowen Grammar School, he went to medical school in Birmingham, where he gained distinctions in surgery and paediatrics, won the Josep

Nigel Gardner was a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in Exeter. He was born in Aldridge, Staffordshire on 16 February 1933, to Hedley and Mathilde Gardner. After leaving school, Nigel studied medicine at Birmingham University and St Thomas' Hospital, London, qualifying in 1956. After pos

Nicholas Chandos Bland was a consultant ENT surgeon in Birmingham. He was born in Birmingham in 1932. His mother was Alice Harvey, Birmingham born and bred. He stayed in the city to study medicine, qualifying in 1956, and gaining his diploma in child health in 1959. After qualifying, he was resid

Philip Starr, known as ‘Jimmie’, was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital, London. He was born in Birmingham in 1933. After qualifying, he spent four years in Canada and then in Australia, studying ophthalmology at the Sydney Eye Hospital. He subsequently returned to England, w

Colin Windsor was a general surgeon in Worcester. He was born on 26 February 1933 in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, and attended grammar schools in Kidderminster and Stourbridge. He excelled in sports, especially rugby, as well as academic subjects. Qualifying from the University of Birmingham