Constance Mary Ottley was born in Hampstead, London, on 25 May 1898, the eldest of four daughters of Canon Robert Ottley and Mary Kay Jones (née Alexander). She was privately educated at home before entering Oxford University in the Society of Oxford Home Students (now St Anne's College). From Oxford she secured a scholarship to the London Hospital where she later acknowledged her indebtedness to James Sherren and A J Walton. After qualification she was receiving room officer at the London Hospital; house physician to York County Hospital and house surgeon to the South London Hospital for Women. She later became consultant surgeon to the Brighton Group of Hospitals and surgeon to the local branch of the St John Ambulance. Outside her medical work she had an interest in music and played the cello. She never married and died at Hove on 18 May 1981.