Elinor Lyon
Encyclopedia
Elinor Bruce Lyon was an English
children's author.
Lyon was born in Guisborough
, Yorkshire
and educated at Headington School, Oxford
. Her father was P. H. B. Lyon
. After living for a time in Switzerland
, she returned to Oxford to read English at Lady Margaret Hall
just as World War II
began. She completed four terms, but then joined the WRNS
because 'with many...friends being killed, I couldn't stay there reading Milton'. She served two and half years as a radar
operator.
Elinor was the inspiration for many of poet John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
's poems. John had met Elinor while attending Rugby School
, and remained close friends with Elinor and her family until John's death in December of 1941.
Her father was headmaster at Rugby School
; she met her future husband Peter Wright there when he was a temporary Classics and English teacher. They became engaged in 1943. He returned to teaching when he was demobbed in 1946, and though Lyon's father retired in 1948 they remained there until 1975, when they retired to Harlech
. They had four children and now have twelve grandchildren.
From 1948 to 1976 Lyon wrote over twenty books for children. She found they 'came much more easily'; than writing for adults and believes her inspiration came from 'ominvorous reading'. She began The House in Hiding, for example, after reading Swallows and Amazons
, because she disliked the characters within it (they were too good at everything!). In response, the children in The House in Hiding get things wrong, but still manage to succeed eventually. The main characters in The House in Hiding, Ian and Sovra, reappear in many of her later books.
She died at Harlech
, Gwynedd
on 28 May 2008.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
children's author.
Lyon was born in Guisborough
Guisborough
Guisborough is a market town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England....
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and educated at Headington School, Oxford
Headington School, Oxford
Headington School is an independent girls' school in Headington, Oxford, England, founded by a group of evangelical Christians in 1915.-General:...
. Her father was P. H. B. Lyon
P. H. B. Lyon
Percy Hugh Beverley Lyon MC was a 20th-century British poet and educator, a winner of the Newdigate Prize and headmaster of Rugby School from 1931 to 1948.-Life:...
. After living for a time in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, she returned to Oxford to read English at Lady Margaret Hall
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Lady Margaret Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located at the end of Norham Gardens in north Oxford. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £34m....
just as World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began. She completed four terms, but then joined the WRNS
Women's Royal Naval Service
The Women's Royal Naval Service was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics...
because 'with many...friends being killed, I couldn't stay there reading Milton'. She served two and half years as a radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
operator.
Elinor was the inspiration for many of poet John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
John Gillespie Magee, Jr. was an American aviator and poet who died as a result of a mid-air collision over Lincolnshire during World War II. He was serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, which he joined before the United States officially entered the war. He is most famous for his poem "High...
's poems. John had met Elinor while attending Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
, and remained close friends with Elinor and her family until John's death in December of 1941.
Her father was headmaster at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
; she met her future husband Peter Wright there when he was a temporary Classics and English teacher. They became engaged in 1943. He returned to teaching when he was demobbed in 1946, and though Lyon's father retired in 1948 they remained there until 1975, when they retired to Harlech
Harlech
Harlech is a town and seaside resort in Gwynedd, within the historical boundaries of Merionethshire in northwest Wales. Lying on Tremadog Bay and within the Snowdonia National Park, it has a population of 1,952, of whom 59% speak Welsh...
. They had four children and now have twelve grandchildren.
From 1948 to 1976 Lyon wrote over twenty books for children. She found they 'came much more easily'; than writing for adults and believes her inspiration came from 'ominvorous reading'. She began The House in Hiding, for example, after reading Swallows and Amazons
Swallows and Amazons
Swallows and Amazons is the first book in the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome; it was first published in 1930, with the action taking place in the summer of 1929 in the Lake District...
, because she disliked the characters within it (they were too good at everything!). In response, the children in The House in Hiding get things wrong, but still manage to succeed eventually. The main characters in The House in Hiding, Ian and Sovra, reappear in many of her later books.
She died at Harlech
Harlech
Harlech is a town and seaside resort in Gwynedd, within the historical boundaries of Merionethshire in northwest Wales. Lying on Tremadog Bay and within the Snowdonia National Park, it has a population of 1,952, of whom 59% speak Welsh...
, Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
on 28 May 2008.
External links
- Obituary in the Times
- Nicholas Tucker, "Elinor Lyon", obituary in the IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, Friday, 6 June 2008. - Julia Eccleshare, "Elinor Lyon", obituary in The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Tuesday, 24 June 2008.