Owen, I am guessing that both you and your wife are getting on in years. Even if her father was in middle age when she was born, she would have to be around 80. So good on you for getting on the computer and giving it a go. We will all try and help. I think the starting point has to be your wife's birth certificate, your marriage certificate or death certificates for either or both of her parents. All of these will provide vital information. There is no Robert Slater age 12 born in Stevenage or Bedfordshire that comes up on 1901 census at http://www.1901censusonline.com/ . But to look further without specific dates and locations is folly and a waste of time. So it's back to certificates. But maybe there is a family bible, press clippings or memorial cards that might also provide some clues. I think that's the place to start. Once you get there, Bedford should have an abundance of parish and census records that will quickly get you back to around 1800. There was a Robert Slater born 1884 in Hitchin and a possible Slater family appears in 1881 Census. But it's all supposition until you get some specifics. Peter in Sydney