Ian is a Consultant Neurosurgeon, formally at Barts Health, but after 38 years in the NHS he is now in full time private practice at the Wellington Hospital in St John’s Wood. He joined the Cutlers’ Company in 2015, initially to assist in judging the Surgical Award Prize, and the Surgical Fellowship, which attract applicants from around the country. He is a member of the Wine Committee, having passed the WSET Diploma of Wines in 2021, and the Charity Committee, with previous experience as a trustee of two other charities which support surgical research in England and Wales.
Ian was born in Nottingham, spent his early childhood in Trinidad and then his school years in Essex, before moving north of the border for medical school. After eight years in Dundee, his surgical training brought him to Barts Hospital, subsequently passing the Fellowship examinations of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and of England. He was the Neurosurgical Tutor to the College in London for 10 years, a member of the Court of Examiners, and of the Specialist Advisory Committee for neurosurgery. His neurosurgical training was at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square, and the Department of Surgical Neurology in Edinburgh, with a period of research in the Institute of Neurology before his consultant appointment to Barts in 1992. Although his training covered the full spectrum of neurosurgery, his main clinical interests now are in skull base surgery and gamma knife radiosurgery.
At university, Ian’s main sport was target rifle shooting. He was captain of the rifle team and shot for Angus County, and for Scottish Universities. He has now swapped his rifle for golf clubs with which he is woefully inaccurate, but he remains a member of the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Deal. He is a long time Spurs supporter, but no longer a season ticket holder since moving to Deal.
He rode motorcycles for many years, both on track and around London, and provided medical cover for the British Superbike Series. Until last year he was also involved as a concussion specialist for the NFL during their London events at Wembley, Twickenham, and White Hart Lane.
Ian’s other interests include classical guitar, recently returning to guitar lessons after a gap of several decades, and wine, sometimes together. He is married to Sarah, a former hospital CEO, and they live by the sea in Deal, having shaken the dust of London off their boots three years ago.