 Pashley was born on 5 June 1935 in Skegness, Lincolnshire, the younger of two daughters of Roy Pashley, an English teacher, and his wife Milly Pashley, who ran a holiday camp.She attended school in Great Yarmouth, where her athletic skills came to attention.In 1953, at the AAA championships in White City, Pashley equalled the British women's 100-yard record of 10.8 seconds.