Norman Henry Birch

Norman Henry Birch was born in Leeds on 19 November 1923. He was from a humble background that few would have guessed would foretell of an exciting and interesting medical career across continents. One of two children, he attended Leeds Grammar School and obtained his school certificate in July 1940. At the age of only 17 he went to Leeds University Medical School and qualified as a doctor in September 1945, before his 21 birthday.

After university, Norman undertook his national service in Germany as a medical officer before returning to Britain for surgical training and achieving his FRCS in …