Edna Ethel Miriam Beech was the youngest of 5 children born on 16th June 1921 to Ted and Polly Beech. They lived in Frances Road, Cotteridge.

At the end of their garden they kept a pig and chickens. She was very close to her father who worked as a metal caster. He used to show Canaries and Edna was the one to choose which ones should enter the competitions.