Lorraine already knew how to drive before she joined up for the war effort. Although her family didn't have much money, she'd had an interesting early life and was what you might call 'aspirational'. The Tydemans lived in Barnes which wasn't as smart as it is today, but she was able to go riding on Barnes Common with her friend Alan Edwards (brother of Jimmy, the comedian), she was passionate about the ballet and used to walk to Covent Garden to see performances, and also played tennis. She had three elder brothers, one of whom may have taught her to drive. But her adventures really began when she joined the WAAF in 1941, and she really learnt to rough it, which didn't come naturally. When she wrote down her experiences, it became clear that she was severely traumatised by many of the things that happened to her, and although she was married to Tommy, they were separated for much of the war and she had to grin and bear it on her own.