Janet was born in Romford, of Welsh ancestry. She went to City of London Girls’ School and Cardiff University.  She spent her working life as a primary school teacher in Essex and Poole until retirement, when she became a political activist and an enthusiastic grandmother.

Jim is a Sheffielder, attending King Edward VII GS and Sheffield University.  He spent 16 years in the steel industry in Sheffield and Epsom then moved to Poole as a metallurgical engineer for 16 years. He was an international metals consultant until retirement. He is Grandad to two teenagers and to two infants.