 She was the third of four children, with two elder sisters and a younger brother, Earnest "Guy" Broomfield (c. 1938–1999).Guy Broomfield was murdered in 1999 by Harry Dalsey, the son of Adrian Dalsey.At the age of six, Shirley was placed in the National Children's Home at Edgworth, near Bolton, and four years later was moved to another children's home in Blackburn, where she attended Blakey Moor School for Girls.