 Educated at Marshall's School in Merthyr Tydfil until 1932, she was then sent to the Elmwood School, Croydon.She was evacuated back to Wales aged 13, but with so many World War II evacuees there were no school places left and she attended Aberdare Secretarial School.In 1942, at age 16, she left school and served in the Women's Royal Naval Service.