John Crawford Adams was a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Mary's Hospital, London, and the author of several acclaimed textbooks on orthopaedic surgery. He was born in Derbyshire, the son of a general practitioner, and was educated at Oakham School. He entered St Mary's Hospital Medical School

Janet Bottomley was born in London on 20 May 1915. Her father was (William) Cecil Bottomley, KCMG, CB, OBE, and was an assistant Under-Secretary of State at the Colonial Office and later Senior Crown Agent for the Colonies. Her mother, Alice Robinson, was the daughter of Sir Richard Robinson, Chairm