Anthony Faulkner Jefferis was born in Wivelsfield, Sussex. Jeho otec bol armádnym dôstojníkom a Tony absolvoval rané školstvo v Newcastli a Malajsku, potom navštevoval Brighton, Hove a Sussex Grammar School. In 1967, he began studying medicine at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and completed his clinical studies at St Thomas' Hospital. Po funkciách domáceho dôstojníka v nemocniciach St Thomas' a Royal Berkshire Hospital nasledovala nehoda v St Thomas' Hospital, po čom nastúpil na krátku službu v Royal Army Medical Corps. He completed professional training for general practice medicine at the Joint Command Rheindahlen in Germany. Neskôr absolvoval základný chirurgický výcvik vo vojenskej nemocnici kráľovnej Alžbety vo Woolwichi a v nemocnici Musgrave Park Hospital v Belfaste. He began his training in ear, nose and throat (ENT) as Head of Department in Brighton. After leaving the army he was appointed ENT Registrar at the Royal Free Hospital and became Chief ENT Registrar at St Mary’s.