Graham Fraser was born on 1 May 1936, the son of Arthur Fraser, a banker, and his wife Phyllis, née Farncombe, a radiologist who was the daughter of a general practitioner. He was educated at Westminster School followed by Worcester College, Oxford, and received his clinical training at Guy's Hospit

Barry Partridge was born in 1934 to Annie Louisa Johnson, a secretary, and Cyril Partridge, a builder. With a younger sister, Margaret, he spent the first 4 years of his life on the family farm in Ngaere, Taranaki. The family moved to Te Puke when he was four and he attended Te Puke Primary and High