Born in Leeds on the 16th April 1936 Brenda Ellis was destined to follow her father in to the well known Leeds tailoring establishments. After a 2 years training she joined the firm as a seamstress a  time when she made bespoke clothing for the dance hall stars of the vibrant Leeds variety scene. Aware that the  jackets commissioned, would be sported on stage by  acts such as a young Frankie Vaughn . Brenda anticipating a long career in factory tailoring, acting on a whim.  Brenda's and her friend Maureen followed an idea  of joining the army, unknowingly to  Brenda, her friend Maureen had failed enlistment on a number of occasions  due to medical grounds when Brenda had passed . Brenda told her family the story of how she had nothing to lose and started her adventure by enlisting in the British army . Brenda undertook her training at Catterick barracks in Yorkshire and Wilton in Wiltshire, hoping to go to Germany was offered a posting with the Royal signal corps in Singapore where she meet and married Frank Gale. Frank drafted with the Army for national service and sent to Singapore, Frank meeting Brenda at the swimming pool. Brenda was a keen swimmer and received  swimming medals for the army. Frank encouraged by a mate to follow a financial bet by asking  Brenda for a date, Brenda replying no ! playing hard to get. Frank proceeded to the pictures with Dot, Brenda's mate . The next time Brenda met Frank at the pool, Frank was bemused by Brenda's interest in him. only to find she would be by his side together for the next 64 years.