raymond (known as ray) leslie whitmore was born in luton, england on 13 september 1920. he attended handsworth boys grammar school. after completing school he joined the university of birmingham as a laboratory assistant in the department of mining. he completed a bsc in physics from the university of london by external study, graduating in 1942. he was awarded the sumpter prize for special physics at the central technical college in 1941 which led to undertaking further study in the department of physics at the university of birmingham. his field there was the emerging study of radar.