Dolly Edwards was born 5 May 1902 at The Cricketer's Arms in Beoley Road, Redditch.
Later the family moved to The Royal Exchange at Droitwich, before her father became the proprietor of The Bear Hotel in Evesham. Later still they moved to the Red Lion at Astwood Bank, where they stayed until her father died on February 11th, 1930 aged 53.
Dolly married a market gardener, Harry Phipps, who mistreated her badly, but she refused to leave him. He once locked her out after she disobeyed him, in order to visit her dying father. On her return she was forced to climb through a window. As a result she lost the child she was carrying, and could have no more children. She spent all her life in Victoria Avenue, Evesham, rarely leaving the house. She did, however, produce some marvellous needlework, including a Christening Gown for Andrew Weaver, which has been used by every generation since.
In 2002, it was learned from one of Harry's nephews that Harry Phipps had two nice brothers and four evil greedy sisters, and they had a harridan of a mother. The daughters did not marry because their mother told them that, if they married, they would not receive a penny of the family fortune. When Harry died, the sisters, as executors, kept all the property and even stole Dolly's pension book, giving her ten shillings (50p) a week to live on. When the last greedy sister died in 2001, her house contained, wrapped in 1939 newspapers, more than 200 new blankets, 150 towels and masses of other linen; 60 cases of pre-war scotch, 100's of bottles of champagne and wine which was all ruined; 100's of pairs of stockings and at least 60 embroidered nightdresses, almost certainly the work of Dolly!