Liam Hugh Wright was born in Taranaki, New Zealand in December 1926. His father, William John Wright, fought in the first world war. His mother, Stella née Hickey had been the headmistress of Opunake School but retired from teaching after her marriage as the couple embarked on running the family far

Dorothy June Raeburn, née Whitney, was born on 8 July 1929 in London. She was the daughter of Herbert Edwin Whitney, an engineer, and his wife Nellie née Grisman who was a teacher. After attending Wycombe High School from 1940 to 1948, she won a state scholarship to study medicine at London Universi