Janet was born in Sheffield to John and Ursula Gray, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon and a GP, respectively. She was educated at Wentworth Boarding School, Bournemouth, and in 1954, after completing her A levels, was accepted to study medicine at Edinburgh University.
In September 1961 she married John Gordon Clark, a contemporary medic embarking on a career as a surgeon. They settled in Edinburgh, and Janet worked …