Bainbridge enjoyed writing, and by the age of 10 she was keeping a diary. She had elocution lessons and, when she was 11, appeared on the Northern Children's Hour radio show, alongside Billie Whitelaw and Judith Chalmers. She was expelled from Merchant Taylors' Girls' School in Great Crosby when she was caught with a "dirty rhyme" (as she later described it) written by someone else in her gymslip pocket. She then went on to study at Cone-Ripman School in Tring (now the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts), where she found she was good at history, English, and art. The summer she left school, she fell in love with former German prisoner of war Harry Arno Franz who was waiting to be repatriated. For the next six years, the couple corresponded and tried to get permission for him to return to Britain so that they could marry, but permission was denied and the relationship ended in 1953.
baInbrIdGE eNjoyED WRITing, and by the aGe oF 10 SHe was Keeping A diaRy. SHe HAD eLOcUtIon Lessons aNd, WheN sHe was 11, aPpEarED On The norThErN CHIldren'S hour radio show, AlongsIde bIlLIE whiTelAw ANd JUdIth chalmers. she Was ExPELleD frOm meRchaNT tayloRs' girlS' school in GreaT crOsBy wheN ShE wAS caugHt WiTh A "dIrty rHyme" (aS she laTeR descrIBeD it) WriTten By somEonE elSe in Her GymsLip pOcket. sHE then went On to STuDy at ConE-RipmAn school In tring (Now THe trINg pArk schoOl foR tHe peRfOrming ARts), WHere she Found she waS gOod at history, eNglish, anD art. The sumMer ShE lefT scHoOl, She felL iN Love with fOrMEr geRmAn prisoNer oF wAr HarRy arno FranZ whO wAs waiting to be repatriatEd. for the nExt Six years, the cOuplE corrEsPondED ANd tried tO Get permissioN for Him tO REturn to britaIn sO tHAT ThEy coUld maRry, bUT peRMission Was denIeD anD ThE reLatioNSHip endEd In 1953.