Iris was born in Leeds and had a happy childhood. She met her future husband (frank) at 17 and they married 2 years later' Frank was in the army and she travelled the world as an army wife having children in Africa Singapore and Germany. In all she had 10 children 7 girls and 3 boys. At the time of her death she was the proud "Nana"to 73 grandchildren with 4 more on the way.