Carol Dean Greenaway was born on 5th September, 1960 in Walthamstow, Essex.

Her parents Bill Dean, an engineers fitter, and Joyce, an insurance clerk, lived in Hurst Road with Carol's older sister Pauline. As was the way of things at the time, Joyce resigned from Liverpool Victoria Insurance to start their family, but opened up a newsagents nearby and minded the young girls and shop at the same time.