Kevin McCarthy

Kevin McCarthy, born in Liverpool in 1921, began his medical studies there in 1939. In 1951 he completed his MD then spent almost his entire career in Liverpool as, successively, assistant lecturer, lecturer, and senior lecturer in bacteriology until, when Allan Downie retired in 1966, he was appointed to the chair of what then became the Department of Medical Microbiology.

His inventiveness was evident from an early age. He had many stories about his exploits in his early years: the machines and crystal radio sets that he made, and the explosives that he concocted, causing mayhem at times. These exploits were always a source of delight to his grandchildren, who reckoned that he would have been a prime candidate for an ASBO! However, as a result of a good school …