Winifred Honora Phipps, known as Winnie, was born in Birmingham on 26th November 1906, the elder of two daughters of Percy and Honora Phipps. Winnie began school at Yardley Church Road Council School but then enrolled at Badsey Council School on 22nd March 1920 when her family lived for a very short time at Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford (her uncle, Claude Sidney Phipps, had moved to Wickhamford from Birmingham in 1919 with his wife and daughter). Winnie left Badsey School on 2nd July 1920 when the family left the district.