John Alexander-Williams

John Alexander-Williams gained his reputation as world class surgeon and was highly respected as a leading authority on diseases of the gut. His masterly ability in the operating theatre and his brilliance as an orator and teacher led to numerous appointments as visiting professor in academic departments of surgery throughout the world. He delivered scores of lectures and scientific presentations. Junior surgeons and research fellows from around the world flocked to work with him in the Department of Surgery at Birmingham General Hospital.

Alexander-Williams w as attracted to any aspect of disease connected to the gastrointestinal tract. He was part of the team of researchers who initially linked the bacterium Clostridium difficile to a life threatening infection of the large bowel.

He gained respect not only for his …