Born in Beckton, East London, England,[1] Mills's uncle Henry was a harp player and her mother was a main influence in developing her musical ability. She took piano lessons from the age of three and a half until the age of seven.\r After working as the superintendent of the typing pool in the office of the Paymaster General in London,[1] in December 1961 she made her first television appearance on The Billy Cotton Show, having been spotted by a talent scout at a Woodford Golf Club dance near her home in Loughton, Essex, where she lived most of her life. She would become a household name by the end of January 1962.