Bernard James Bowden was born in 1927 at Mt Albert, Auckland, the only son of William and Catherine Bowden. He was educated at Takapuna Grammar School and entered Auckland University as a Sinclair Scholar, graduating BSc in 1948. He spent that year as a junior master at King's College, Auckland, but

Harold John Kevin Vieyra was born in Madras, India on 4 May 1929. He was educated privately before attending Montford Boys' European High School, Yercaud, where he became the junior athletics champion. His premedical studies were at Madras Christian College and he then qualified from Madras Medical