A prolific English children's author, primarily of girls' school stories, Winifred Darch was born in 1884 in Brighton, the daughter of schoolmaster, and then solicitor William Darch, and his wife Florence. She was educated at Lestonstone High School, and - finances not permitting a university education - in the teacher training program at the Cheltenham Ladies' College. From 1906-1935 Darch worked as a teacher and housemistress at the High School for Girls at Loughton, before taking early retirement in order to care for her parents. She lived in the family home in Ashington, Sussex, until her death in 1960.