Colin Kirkham was a consultant surgeon at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading and Newbury District Hospital. He was born on 14 January 1924 and studied medicine at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University, qualifying in 1947. Prior to his consultant appointment, he held posts in London,

Charles Frederick Noon was a consultant general surgeon at King George and Barking hospitals, Essex. He was born in Norwich on 21 May 1923, the son of Charles Noon, a general surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and Cicely Elizabeth Ellen Noon née South, a nursing sister. He was educated at