Vincent Townrow was born on 1 June 1885 in Chesterfield, the youngest child of Thomas Townrow, a miller and his wife Mary (Adlington). Educated at Chesterfield Grammar School and Guy's Hospital, where he was prizeman of the Guy's Philosophical Society, he qualified with honours in medicine. Working

Bernard Grainger Goodwin was born on 13 November, 1886. He was educated at the King's School, Worcester, and subsequently Birmingham University and the London Hospital, where he qualified MRCS LRCP in 1909. He gained his Fellowship two years later. During the first world war he served with the RA