Lives remembered: Peter Brunt, Niel Immelman and Michael Parkinson

Dr Charles Crichton, retired GP, writes: I noted with appreciation the obituary regarding the Rev Professor Peter Brunt (August 22). I had the privilege of receiving both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and career advice from him — part of his greatness was that he made time to listen and advise on the most mundane matters that us juniors brought to his attention.

An abiding memory in our undergraduate teaching on gastroenterology was the Peter Brunt lecture. This was in the late 1970s, in the days before flexible endoscopy became the norm.

About 30 minutes into the presentation, he would whip forward his right forearm and a rigid sigmoidoscope (a tube used to examine the lower part of the colon) would suddenly appear in his right