dˈɪlks wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn fˈoʊlshɪl, ɐ sˈʌbɜːb ʌv kˈɑːvɛntɹi, ænd ɐtˈɛndᵻd ðə ɹˈɔɪəl ɡɹˈæmɚ skˈuːl wˈʊstɚ bᵻfˌoːɹ wˈɪnɪŋ ɐ skˈɑːlɚʃˌɪp tə hˈɜːtfɚd kˈɑːlɪdʒ, ˈɑːksfɚd, tə ɹˈiːd hˈɪstɚɹi.
Dilks was born in Foleshill, a suburb of Coventry, and attended The Royal Grammar School Worcester before winning a scholarship to Hertford College, Oxford, to read history.