Born in Oxford, England, on 26 January 1945, Jacqueline du Pré was the second child of Derek and Iris du Pré. Derek du Pré was born in Jersey, where her family had lived for generations. After having worked as an accountant at the Lloyds Bank in St Helier and London for eleven years Derek became assistant editor, and later the editor, of The Accountant. Jacqueline's mother, born Iris Greep, was a talented pianist, and taught at the Royal Academy in London.