Ronald Wellesley Pigott: plastic surgeon who specialised in cleft lip and palate repairs

Ronald Wellesley Pigott was born in Isfahan, Persia (now Iran), the son of a general practitioner who settled in Kettering, Northamptonshire. He attended Oakham School.

His friend and colleague, Brian Sommerlad, recalled, “In adulthood, Ron and his sister visited Isfahan to try to find the hospital where their father had worked as a doctor and surgeon, but could not find it. I go there regularly, found the hospital, and sent Ron pictures—of a very run down hospital and locked-up church. He was very pleased.”

Pigott read medicine in Dublin. While a student, he excelled at sport and made many friends. As well as qualifying as a doctor in 1954, he was an Irish international hockey player and played both hockey and tennis for the University of Dublin.

Pigott’s general surgery rotation was at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, and he was awarded the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in 1960 and of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1962. He took a short service commission with the British Army Parachute Field Ambulance from 1960 to 1962 and then started plastic surgery training. He worked at Odstock Hospital, Salisbury, under John Baron and then went to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he was senior registrar under JP Reidy until 1968.

In 1958 Pigott married Sheila, a state registered nurse and midwife; they had four sons. His friend and colleague, Nigel Mercer, recalled: “Ron and Sheila were consummate hosts, and at one party it became clear who was the ‘boss’ at home. When asked where a new brand of peanut came from, Ron replied, ‘I don’t know. I just come home and they are here!’ Ron continued to play tennis for many …