Elizabeth David CBE, née Gwynne, was born on Boxing Day 1913 to Stella and Rupert Gwynne at Wootton Manor near Eastbourne in Sussex, England. Elizabeth’s father was the Conservative MP for Eastbourne.

Both her mother and her father came from prosperous and titled families, with descendants of English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and Dutch roots.

Elizabeth’s father was to become a junior minister in the government of Prime Minister Bonar Law.

Elizabeth had three sisters: Priscilla, born 1909, Diana, born 1915 and Felicité, born 1917.