The Farquharson Award

Born in Edinburgh in 1905, Eric had his heart set on a career in medicine from an early age. Graduating from Edinburgh University in 1928, and gaining his Fellowship from the College in 1931, Eric is renowned for publishing his Textbook of Operative Surgery in 1954. The book was an instant success, owed not just to the clarity and presentation of the anatomy and procedures, but also to the conversational style which made it a pleasure to read. Eric Farquharson gave long and devoted service to the College as an examiner, as a member of Council, and as Vice President from 1967 until his death. Nothing in his professional life gave him greater satisfaction than clinical teaching at the bedside and we could not have a more appropriate memorial in the College than the Farquharson Award for excellent in the teaching of Surgery or Anatomy which, after his untimely death in 1970 was generously endowed by his widow and his two daughters. Although the award was originally reserved for those who taught at the bedside, in theatre, in the dissecting room or through lectures/textbooks, it has been broadened to incorporate new methods of teaching through simulators, wet laboratories, operative videos and distance learning programmes.