Born into a family of potters in Stoke on Trent, he served in an industrial sandwich course apprenticeship, followed by several years managing a factory. The Suez crisis forced it to close.
He took up medical studies in response to a challenge and to prove his own ability to make his way without his father’s help.
Edinburgh Medical School was the world’s best in 1957: if he made it there it would be a real triumph.
60 years ago, being a medical student entailed some hair-raising encounters in the course of training like giving a general anaesthetic without help or instruction, simply because you were the only help available; or assisting in emergency surgery when there was nobody else available.Distinguished d...
