Swan , Alexander , 1906-1980 , consultant pathologist and haematologist

Born 1906 in Chita, Siberia, and originally named Alexander Lebedeff; moved to Harbin, China, 1922; awarded a Russian Diploma in Civil and Railway Engineering, Harbin Polytechnical Institute, China, 1930; worked in Shanghai, China, on the construction of skyscrapers, submitted articles to the Engineering Society of China, 1931-1935, and became interested in theosophy and naturopathy; enrolled as a student in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 1936; cadet medical officer in the Hong Kong Defence Force, 1938; lieutenant medical officer, Hong Kong, 1941; Japanese POW, 1941-1945; moved to England, enrolled as a medical student, University of London, 1946, and changed his surname to Swan; Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, University of London, 1949; worked as a Houseman and locum in General Practice, Sheffield, Yorkshire, 1950-1952; Pathology Department, King's college Hospital, 1952-1954; appointed successively Registrar, Senior Medical Officer and Consultant Pathologist in Haematology, St James Hospital, Balham, London; Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, 1971; retired 1971; further research in leukaemia, Marsden Hospital Group Cancer Research Foundation Leukaemia Unit, 1972-1974; died 1980.