John Howkins was a gynaecological surgeon at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. He was born in Hartlepool, County Durham, on 17 December 1907, the son of John Drysdale Howkins, a civil engineer, and Helen Louise née Greenwood, the daughter of a bank manager. He was educated at Cargilfield Preparator

Mary Mayeur was born in London on 16 July 1910, the daughter of Eugene Francois Mayeur, the actor, and Helen (née MacArthur). She was educated at St Paul's Girls' School (foundation scholar) and at the Royal Free Hospital, winning scholarships and prizes and qualifying in 1933 with a distinction in

Herbert ('Bert') Agar was born in Grimsby, Yorkshire, on 10 December 1907, the son of Herbert William Agar, a science teacher, and Catherine (née Agar, but no relation) who was the daughter of a joiner and shipyard worker. He was educated at Wintringham School, Grimsby, where he won a scholarship to