Frank Clare Wilkinson was born in Wallasey on 31 August 1889. His father, also Frank, was a Liverpool pilot and his mother, Annie, née Clare, came from a family connected with shipping. Both his grandfathers were ship's captains. He was educated at Wallasey Grammar School and Liverpool University. H

William Warwick James was born on 20 September 1874 in Wellingborough School, and also had the advantage of making good use of his father's fine library. Having decided to become a dentist he began his training as an apprentice in his native town and then came to London to the Royal Dental and the M

Terence Ward was born in Dartmouth on 16 January 1906, the son of a school teacher. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Edinburgh, where he was educated at the Royal High School. Wishing to pursue a career in dentistry, but with only limited means, he became apprenticed as a dental mechanic, and