Louise Brueton (Cox)

Louise Brueton was born in Harborne, Birmingham; her parents’ late surprise package. Having two much older brothers instilled in her a sense of adventure and a feeling that she could do whatever they could, so she never saw being a girl as a limitation.

She won a free place at a convent school, where she was one of a smallish group of girls who favoured sciences over humanities. She was also a good gymnast and played hockey and tennis for the school. Thanks to her biology teacher, Louise applied to medical school and gained a place at the Royal Free in London in 1979.

Louise excelled at medical school, winning a host of prizes and awards, including the Richardson-Kuhlman medal for …