Henrietta Branford
Encyclopedia
Henrietta Branford born in India, she was a fiction writer who wrote many novels including Fire, Bed and Bone. After her death in 1999 Julia Eccleshare (Children's Book Editor of the Guardian newspaper
and chairman of the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
) and Anne Marley (Head of Children’s, Youth & Schools Services for Hampshire Library & Information Service) decided to create an annual award named the Branford Boase Award
in commemoration of both Henrietta and her colleague Wendy Boase
(who was her editor) who also died of cancer
the same year. Henrietta had wanted to create an award for children before she had died which is now known as the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition.
in Hampshire
, England
where she learnt how to ride a horse and about animals. After living in many other places she later moved to Southampton
in 1980 with her husband Paul Carter who was a photographer, and their 3 children, Jack, Rose and Polly.
She started her writing career when she was 40 and in 13 years until her death in 1999 she wrote 25 books for toddlers to teenagers. Before her writing career she had a variety of jobs including as a nanny, in shops, hotels and offices and for a charity helping elderly people in South London
. She did train as a community and youth worker at Goldsmiths College from 1970-1972 but didn't enjoy it. The first novel she wrote was called Royal Blunder which started her writing career well. Other novels she has written include Fire, Bed and Bone, The Fated Sky
.
Henrietta was diagnosed with breast cancer
in December 1997. During the following years she had three operations and chemotherapy
, but her cancer turned out to be very vigorous and could not be treated effectively. She later died at home aged 53 in Southampton
on April 23, 1999.
After her death, Julia Eccleshare and Anne Marley decided to form 2 annual awards: Branford Boase Award
(for first time writers) and the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition (for children) in memory of herself and Wendy Boase
. Henrietta had originally thought of the idea before she had died and so Julia and Anne made sure that her ideas were used.
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and chairman of the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
The Nestlé Children's Book Prize, also known as the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, was an annual award given to children's books written in the previous year by a UK citizen or resident. The prize was administered by Booktrust, an independent charity which promotes books and reading, and sponsored by...
) and Anne Marley (Head of Children’s, Youth & Schools Services for Hampshire Library & Information Service) decided to create an annual award named the Branford Boase Award
Branford Boase Award
The Branford Boase Award is a British literary award presented annually to an outstanding novel for young people by a first-time writer.Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books and Henrietta Branford worked together previously to produce a great number of books. Both Wendy Boase and...
in commemoration of both Henrietta and her colleague Wendy Boase
Wendy Boase
Wendy Boase born in Melbourne, Australia, she was one of the co-founders of the children's publishing company Walker Books. She held the position of editorial director of Walker Books until her death in 1999 from cancer...
(who was her editor) who also died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
the same year. Henrietta had wanted to create an award for children before she had died which is now known as the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition.
Biography
Henrietta grew up in an isolated part of New ForestNew Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
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...
where she learnt how to ride a horse and about animals. After living in many other places she later moved to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
in 1980 with her husband Paul Carter who was a photographer, and their 3 children, Jack, Rose and Polly.
She started her writing career when she was 40 and in 13 years until her death in 1999 she wrote 25 books for toddlers to teenagers. Before her writing career she had a variety of jobs including as a nanny, in shops, hotels and offices and for a charity helping elderly people in South London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She did train as a community and youth worker at Goldsmiths College from 1970-1972 but didn't enjoy it. The first novel she wrote was called Royal Blunder which started her writing career well. Other novels she has written include Fire, Bed and Bone, The Fated Sky
The Fated Sky
The Fated Sky is the title of a historical novel for young adults by English author Henrietta Branford, first published in Great Britain in 1996 by Hodder Children's Books. Set in Norway and Iceland during the Viking period, it depicts the stirring but bleak existence of Dark Age Europeans at a...
.
Henrietta was diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in December 1997. During the following years she had three operations and chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
, but her cancer turned out to be very vigorous and could not be treated effectively. She later died at home aged 53 in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
on April 23, 1999.
After her death, Julia Eccleshare and Anne Marley decided to form 2 annual awards: Branford Boase Award
Branford Boase Award
The Branford Boase Award is a British literary award presented annually to an outstanding novel for young people by a first-time writer.Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books and Henrietta Branford worked together previously to produce a great number of books. Both Wendy Boase and...
(for first time writers) and the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition (for children) in memory of herself and Wendy Boase
Wendy Boase
Wendy Boase born in Melbourne, Australia, she was one of the co-founders of the children's publishing company Walker Books. She held the position of editorial director of Walker Books until her death in 1999 from cancer...
. Henrietta had originally thought of the idea before she had died and so Julia and Anne made sure that her ideas were used.