Dawn's father, William Johnson (Bill) enlisted in the RAF at the outbreak of the second World War and one of his postings was to Wells-next-the-Sea to maintain the air-sea-rescue launches based in Wells harbour. He was billeted in a large house on the Buttlands which must have been a rather comfortable lodging compared to some. Bill was a keen sportsman and some leisure time was spent playing cricket or football on the Buttlands green. Around this time, he met Joan Hubbard. Her parents lived in Wells: her father was a train driver for the LNER and her mother a very capable housewife. Bill and Joan were married in St. Nicholas church, Wells next the Sea. In due course, Dawn was born in Hunstanton in 1946. Sometime after the war ended, they moved to a suburb of south London where Bill started civilian employment at Croydon Airport. Later he transferred to Heathrow Airport, working for BOAC in an engineering capacity. They spent many holidays with family and friends in Wells and it was from this frequent contact with the town that Dawn's love for it blossomed and she was to return time and time again with her growing family. She always avowed that a visit to Wells could revive her health and spirits like nothing else.