Born in Wortley, Leeds, Yorkshire, she was educated at Sheffield High School, and joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1941.
She remained in the WAAF after the war, and continued into the permanent Women's Royal Air Force when it was established in 1949.
[citation needed] She later served at RAF Training Command before being promoted to director of the Women's Royal Air Force in 1973, in succession to Philippa Marshall.
[citation needed] After stepping down as director, she chaired the Girls Venture Corps and held positions with the Union Jack Club and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
She was the first woman in the RAF Supply Branch to have been promoted to the rank of Air Commodore.