Hedley Walter Hall was born in Farsley, near Leeds, on 3 October 1907. His father, Walter, was a Methodist minister. His mother was Julia Florence née Copestake. He was educated at Goole Primary and Secondary Schools, then Shebbear College, north Devon, where he was captain of the school. He studied

Arthur Belson King was born in Norwich on 15 July 1909, the son of Arthur Edward King, a retail chemist, and Adelaide, née Walker. He attended Bracondale School, Norwich, and Bishops Stortford College. From here he went to University College, London, and completed his clinical work at University Col