Aileen Orr was born in Dumfries and raised in Lockerbie before going on to study at the London School of Economics. After a few years in banking, she married and became a Regional Director of the SCA. She stood for both the Westminster and Scottish parliaments and currently enjoys working with parliamentarians on a variety of issues and all things Polish. Neal Ascherson was born in Edinburgh and studied at Cambridge University. A journalist for many years, he has also written numerous books and is well known as an authority on Polish and East European affairs.