Dolly was born to Mary (Cawthorne) and Robert Swallow during the first quarter of 1925 in Whitechapel, East London. She was one of five children and the middle of three daughters..

After the War - around May 1948 - she married Alfred 'Sonny' Evans in Bethnal Green, East London.

They had no children and lived in Stepney before moving out to Leytonstone where they shared a house with Dolly's parents at 99 Cavendish Drive.

The couple ran a green grocer shop in Whitehorse Lane, Stepney Green for many years. In the early 1970's this gave way to Dolly's dream of owning a wool shop. Dot's Wool Shop as it was called was situated near Mile End Underground Station in a now non-existent road running between Burdett Road and Eric Street. Eventually they moved out to the Romford area of Essex, where Sonny died.

A photo of the couple together on holiday can be seen by clicking on the link: Holiday Fun. The pair can also be seen in a picture take at Dolly's eldest brother's wedding: Robert Swallow Wedding Group Photo.