Margaret and Robert's grandparents came from Manchester where in their early years they had both worked in the branch of Boots the Chemist. The family moved to Swansea after Arthur their grandfather returned to Manchester following service with the army in World War 1 when he had been seen service in Egypt, Constantinople and Africa. There was no job for him at Boots after he was demobbed but he accepted a position at a new shop being built in Swansea. In the 30s he became self employed doing a bit of free lance photography before accepting a position as manager of a photographic processing works based at what had been a Mission Church on Swansea Docks. The family lived at 71 Pantycelyn Road, Townhill throughout the late 1920s, 1930's and World War 2, but after Amy Dawson developed angina they moved to a brand new bungalow in the picturesque village of Ilston, Gower where they lived for about 13 or 14 years. During that time Arthur Dawson continued to work in photography whilst Amy lived at home, a bungalow that was frequently visited by Robert and Margaret. Once they started school she would often collect both children at the school gate and get the tea ready before Joan, her daughter (Robert and Margaret's mother) came home.