She was educated at St George's School in Clarens, Switzerland. She won the Austrian women's ice skating championships three times, and later enjoyed skiing and swimming. Aged 14, she visited England in 1938 with the intention of returning to school in Switzerland, but remained in England after Germany invaded Austria. She was brought up as part of the family of Dr. Hans Hock, merchant banker and partner in Singer and Friedlander, London, to whom she referred throughout her life as "Mummy" and "Daddy". She joined the school at its new base at Onslow Hall in Shropshire. She was classed as an enemy alien in 1940. She became a driver in the ATS after leaving school in 1942.