Her mother, Marie (born Delger) was Swiss and her father Ernest John Cornfield Dighton was a civil servant.

When she had left school she became a pacifist which led her to join the Peace Pledge Union.

They were involved with work at Spofforth Hall which supported "problem families" until they returned to London in 1956.

[1] While working for the Citizens Advice bureau she realised the effect that bereavement could make to widows.

[2] Initially the priority was not psychological support but more practical problems like tax, pensions, training for a new job, insurance, diet and health.