Ivan Cher was a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the University of New South Wales’ Teaching Hospital, Sydney. He was born in Wellington, New Zealand on 22 November 1927, the son of Paul Cher and Minnie Cher née Spiro. He attended Wellington College, where in 1945 he gained the Lance George Memorial

John Conrad Neely was born in Bromley, Kent on 29 March 1901, the son of William Neely, a stationer and Clara Rebecca, née Cope. He was educated at Hodder School, Stoneyhurst College and Hertford College, Oxford, before entering Guy's Hospital Medical School for clinical studies. He qualified in 192