[5] Branson was born in Edmonton, Middlesex (now London Borough of Enfield, Greater London), England, the daughter of Dorothy Constance (née Jenkins) (19 June 1898 - August 1997) and Major Rupert Ernest Huntley Flindt (born 11 St Faith's-road, West Norwood, 28 December 1890 - 19 October 1966).

[1][6] As a young adult, she served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRENS) during World War II.

After the war ended, she toured West Germany as a ballet dancer with Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA).

[17] He revealed that he owed his career to his mother, explaining that she had found a necklace in the 1960s and after the police let her keep the jewellery, because nobody had claimed it, she sold it and gave him the funds.

[20] A new Airbus A350-1000, G-VEVE - Fearless Lady has been named in her honour and was delivered to Virgin Atlantic in December 2021 as the first aircraft optimised for the airline's leisure routes.