Born in Kensington in May 1889, May Estelle Wills was one of eight children, the only one who from her earliest recollections could hear spirit voices.  Frequently beaten by her father to correct what he considered to be her unruly imagination as he had no understanding of Spiritualism whatsoever.

A frequent visitor from the spirit world was her brother, who had died before she was born.  Many other spirit children would visit and it was a constant cause of concern when her parents would listen to her having conversations with them.

When she grew a little older, she went out to work at the age of fifteen. Estelle secured a position as a nursemaid to a family in Turnham Green, looking after the children, a position which she loved.