MB BS Lond 1945; MRCS Eng LRCP Lond 1945; FRCS Eng 1954.
Bassett was born in Malaya on 4 June 1923. He was educated at Harrow and at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School. After qualifying, Bassett held various house appointments at several London hospitals. He then held registrar positions at Brompton Hospital, London, East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital and Newcastle Regional Chest Surgery Centre. In 1960, Bassett was appointed consultant to the Manchester Regional Board, Baguley Hospital and Park Hospital Davyhulme. In 1960 he became consultant thoracic surgeon with special interest in cardiac surgery at MRI. Bassett established a modern, first class cardiothoracic department in Manchester. Along with his clinical work, Bassett was also a part time lecturer at University of Manchester, a member of the Society of Cardio-thoracic Surgeons and the British Cardiac Society. Bassett was honorary secretary of Manchester Medical Society from 1970 to 1974, and was on the council from 1974 to 1979. He died on 25 August 1990.