In the eighth episode of Martha Kearney's series Close Encounters, the former soldier and now TV presenter JJ Chalmers joins her in the National portrait gallery to celebrate a painting of Sir Archibald Hector McIndoe. McIndoe is known by many as the father of plastic surgery. His work during the second world war, on young airman who had suffered terrible and often disfiguring burns lead to developments in battlefield and cosmetic surgery that JJ reveals were behind his own recovery from serious bomb blast injuries sustained while serving in Afghanistan.
JJ also talks about McIndoe's 'Guinea Pig Club' made up of the airman who had come under McIndoe's care, which was the inspiration for JJ forming the Casy-Vac club for modern soldiers who have had to be evacuated from the front line as casualties.

The Series is a prelude to the re-opening of the National Portrait Gallery later this month after three years of massive renovation.

Producer: Tom Alban Show less