She learnt to type when she left the Manchester High School for Girls when she was 16.

She worked as reporter on newspapers in the north of England until she moved to London in 1960.

[1] In November 2008, Bowles' great-grandson, Ben Budworth, became the publisher of The Lady on behalf of the family owners.

He introduced many changes proposed by Usden[1] and circulation increased from 27,000 to 57,000 after a relaunch in 2009.

[4] A Channel 4 TV programme, The Lady and the Revamp followed Johnson in her quest to raise circulation further.