Marcus Holley Ford was born at Hornchurch, Essex on 12 February 1914, son of Aubrey Cecil Ford a violin teacher and his wife Christine , a vocalist. In 1939, Marcus was an 'advertising canvasser', living with his parents at 25 Park Drive, Hornchurch. A landscape painter, he studied privately and had several exhibitions including solo shows at Frost & Read in London and was president of the Upminster Art Society and a member of the Wapping Group.