The position of President of first BAPS, then BAPRAS is a roll-call of the most significant British plastic surgeons of their eras.
Following inception of the Association in 1946, “The Four Greats”, founders of the specialty in the UK, as it turned out, became President in order of their informal precedence. The names of many who followed live on to remind us of major procedural advances or instruments used in the practice of reconstructive plastic surgery.
Five plastic surgeons have been president in two separate years, Professor Kilner (1947-48 & 1955), Rainsford Mowlem (1950 & 1959), the Collection’s founder, Archivist Mr A B Wallace (1951 &1963), Richard Battle (1952 &1967) and John Barron (1953 &1975). Only one, Professor Kilner has held the post in three years, having served two consecutively in the 1940s before the Presidency was first changed to coincide with the year ends.
Anne Sutherland became the first female president in 1987, the Association having to wait a further 34 years, and a name change to BAPRAS, before its second, Ruth Waters for the now two-year post in 2021-22.