John Edward Holgate was born in Vizagapatam, India, on 21 October 1921, the son of Maurice James Holgate, who was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Indian Medical Service. His mother was Miss Florence Polyxenie Marsden. John was sent to Epsom College and then to St Bartholomew's Hospital graduating MB BS

Mathew Finbarr (Sandy) Hunt received his professional education at St Bartholomew's Hospital and Medical School and qualified with the Conjoint Diploma in 1945, gaining his Fellowship in 1952. After junior appointments at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street and at St Bartholomew's