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I N L O V I N G M E M O R YJohn Clarke Mustardé(6 June 1916-16 October 2010)Jack Mustardé, pioneer Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, was born and educated in Glasgow. He trained inophthalmology and, in 1940, he was posted to Cairo as a lieutenant in the medical corps. When Tobruk fell, he was takenprisoner by the Germans and was then passed on to the Italians. He escaped, but was recaptured. He was sent home in1943 due to ill health and wrote ‘The Sun Stood Still’, a book describing his life as a prisoner of war.He then re-qualified as a Plastic Surgeon, seeing the great need amongst injured servicemen. At the time, he lived inNottingham, but travelled down to Park Prewett Hospital in Basingstoke once a week to train under Sir Harold Gillies.He also sought training under Sir Harold’s cousin, Sir Archibald McIndoe and also Eric Peet in Oxford. In order to travelthe distance, he bought an Auster aeroplane and taught himself to fly, using a road atlas and following main roads. Onone foggy day he force- landed in a field and had to ask the owner of the farm where he was.He was famous for being able to get out of difficult situations. Once, when stopped for speeding, he explained that hehad to perform emergency surgery and continued his journey with a police escort.In 1948 he was appointed to Basingstoke under Sir Harold Gilles. It was after the war and rationing was in force.Showing great initiative, he kept pigs, a cow and chickens and was able to feed his family, and the hospital, with meatand eggs.In 1954 he was appointed to Ballochmyle Hospital in Glasgow, which had been established to treat wounded soldiers.The Plastic Surgery Unit also treated dental and maxillofacial patients, and children with congenital deformities.His main interest was in periorbital surgery and, having moved to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, he published 40 papersand three books: ‘Repair and Reconstruction in the Orbital Region’ (1966), ‘Ophthalmic Surgery Up to Date’ (1970)and ‘Plastic Surgery in Infancy and Childhood’ (1971). He always emphasised the importance of anatomy, and manyprocedures and instruments bear his name – among them the rotational cheek flap for eyelid reconstruction, theMustardé needle holder, and the Mustardé forceps.He collaborated with Dr Paul Tessier in Paris and was instrumental in developing the subspecialty of craniofacialsurgery. He was a founding member and the first President of the European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic andReconstructive Surgery.Those who knew him well recognised that he was a kind man, but he was not to be trifled with. He was meticulous inpreparing his own case after being involved in a legal battle with the Greater Glasgow Health Board, who accused himof not honouring his contract. His defending counsel commended the thoroughness of Jack’s evidence and, after anignominious defeat, the Chairman of the Health Board resigned.Although he travelled the world and was invited to lecture and operate in many countries, his theatre at home inIssue 6 www.ipras.org IPRAS Journal 19