Michael Anthony Brennan, usually known as Joe, was born on 8 September 1925 in Manchester. He was the son of Thomas Edward Brennan, manager of Finnigan's of Deansgate, Manchester, and Frances, née Mahon. He was educated at St Joseph's School, Moss Side, and Xaverian College, Victoria Park, under its

Richard Anthony Payne, known to all as 'Tony', was a consultant general surgeon at the North Middlesex Hospital in London. He was born on 17 July 1921, in Worcester, the son of Herbert George Payne, a master at Haberdasher's Aske's School, and Jessica Sweeney. He was educated at his father's school

William Ashby was born in Prenton, Birkenhead, on 17 May 1925, the son of Ernest William Ashby, a consultant electrical engineer and his wife Dorothy Margaret (née Bennett). He went to school at Quarry Bank High School in Liverpool and graduated in medicine at the University of Liverpool in 1948. Th

Roland Jones was a consultant surgeon at Essex County and Black Notley Hospitals. He was born in Southport, Lancashire, on 16 May 1919. His father Norman was an architect, his mother was Esther née Cooper. He was educated at Oundle and St John's College, Cambridge, from which he went to St Thomas's

'Dare' Watkins was born in Bristol on 29 December 1925. His father, Henry Herbert Watkins, and mother, Brenda Florence née Taylor-Milton, were both dentists. He was educated at King William College, Isle of Man, where he was an enthusiastic sportsman. Later, he went to Liverpool University Medical S