Ivan David Alexander Johnston

During the early part of the second world war Ivan David Alexander Johnston moved to his grandparents’ farm in County Antrim and was educated at Ballymena Academy, later returning to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. One excellent teacher of botany in medical school was Professor Flynn, the father of the flamboyant film star, Errol.

After qualification, Ivan did house appointments, the first being with (Sir) Ian Fraser, a charismatic and enthusiastic surgeon. With a leaning towards research, Ivan became a surgical tutor to the professorial unit under the guidance of Professor Harold Rodgers and Dick Welbourn. During 1959-60 he was research associate at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, travelling to …