Malcolm Stening was an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Sydney, Australia. He was born in Sydney on 17 August 1912, the third son of George Smith Stening, a dairy expert, and Muriel Grafton Stening née Lees, the daughter of a printer who was also mayor of Sydney. Stening was educated at Sydney Boys

Mary Mayeur was born in London on 16 July 1910, the daughter of Eugene Francois Mayeur, the actor, and Helen (née MacArthur). She was educated at St Paul's Girls' School (foundation scholar) and at the Royal Free Hospital, winning scholarships and prizes and qualifying in 1933 with a distinction in