John Rodney Ellis Dathan

John Rodney Ellis Dathan—or “Rod,” as we all know him—qualified at the London Hospital. His junior medical training, on the medical unit, under Professors Jack Ledingham and Clifford Wilson, led to his MD under their supervision. He was instrumental in establishing the hospital’s renal dialysis unit. While a medical student he captained the football team during a very successful period.

Rod was appointed initially at the remarkably young age of 30 as a consultant renal physician to Southampton and Portsmouth, but he moved quickly to take up a full time post in Southampton and south west Hampshire. As part of this job and in addition to his Southampton role, he took over clinical responsibility for the tiny Lymington New …