arthur ernest jolliffe was born at 39 cardigan street in the jericho area of oxford on 23 january 1871, the youngest son of henry jolliffe and anne speller. his father, who was a house painter, died just after arthur's fifth birthday, and his mother went out to service: in 1881 when she was aged 50 she was working for a lady at 11 warnborough road in north oxford, and arthur lived with her there.