U. A. Fanthorpe
Encyclopedia
Ursula Askham Fanthorpe, CBE
, FRSL
(22 July 1929 – 28 April 2009) was an English poet. She published as UA Fanthorpe.
and at St Anne's College, Oxford, where she received a first-class
degree
in English language and literature, and subsequently taught English at Cheltenham Ladies' College
for sixteen years. She then abandoned teaching for jobs as a secretary, receptionist and hospital clerk in Bristol
- in her poems, she later remembered some of the patients for whose records she had been responsible .
Her first volume of poetry, Side Effects, was published in 1978. She was "Writer-in-Residence" at St Martin's College, Lancaster (now University of Cumbria)(1983–85), as well as Northern Arts Fellow at Durham
and Newcastle Universities.
In 1987 Fanthorpe went freelance, giving readings
around the country and occasionally abroad. In 1994 she was nominated for the post of Professor of Poetry
at Oxford. Her nine collections of poems were published by Peterloo Poets. Her Collected Poems came out in 2005. Many of her poems are for two voices. In her readings the other voice is that of Bristol academic and teacher R.V. "Rosie" Bailey, Fanthorpe's life partner of 44 years. The couple co-wrote a collection of poems, From Me To You: Love Poems, that was published in 2007 by Enitharmon.
, Gloucestershire
, after a long battle with cancer.
, and was made CBE
in 2001 for services to poetry. In 2003 she received the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry
. In 2006 she was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Letters) from the University of Bath
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRSL
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
(22 July 1929 – 28 April 2009) was an English poet. She published as UA Fanthorpe.
Early life
She was educated in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and at St Anne's College, Oxford, where she received a first-class
British undergraduate degree classification
The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading scheme for undergraduate degrees in the United Kingdom...
degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English language and literature, and subsequently taught English at Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham Ladies' College
The Cheltenham Ladies' College is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.-History:The school was founded in 1853...
for sixteen years. She then abandoned teaching for jobs as a secretary, receptionist and hospital clerk in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
- in her poems, she later remembered some of the patients for whose records she had been responsible .
Her first volume of poetry, Side Effects, was published in 1978. She was "Writer-in-Residence" at St Martin's College, Lancaster (now University of Cumbria)(1983–85), as well as Northern Arts Fellow at Durham
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
and Newcastle Universities.
In 1987 Fanthorpe went freelance, giving readings
Poetry reading
A poetry reading is a performance of poetry, normally given on a small stage in a café or bookstore, although poetry readings given by notable poets frequently are booked into larger venues to accommodate crowds...
around the country and occasionally abroad. In 1994 she was nominated for the post of Professor of Poetry
Oxford Professor of Poetry
The chair of Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford is an unusual academic appointment, now held for a term of five years, and chosen through an election open to all members of Convocation, namely, all graduates and current academics of the university; in 2010, on-line voting was allowed....
at Oxford. Her nine collections of poems were published by Peterloo Poets. Her Collected Poems came out in 2005. Many of her poems are for two voices. In her readings the other voice is that of Bristol academic and teacher R.V. "Rosie" Bailey, Fanthorpe's life partner of 44 years. The couple co-wrote a collection of poems, From Me To You: Love Poems, that was published in 2007 by Enitharmon.
Death
Fanthorpe died, aged 79, on 28 April 2009, in a hospice near her home in Wotton-under-EdgeWotton-under-Edge
Wotton-under-Edge is a market town within the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England. Located near the southern end of the Cotswolds, the Cotswold Way long-distance footpath passes through the town. Standing on the B4058 Wotton is about from the M5 motorway. The nearest railway station is...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, after a long battle with cancer.
Awards and honours
Fanthorpe was a Fellow of the Royal Society of LiteratureRoyal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
, and was made CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 2001 for services to poetry. In 2003 she received the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry
Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry
The Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry is awarded for a book of verse published by someone in any of the Commonwealth realms. Originally the award was open only to British subjects living in the United Kingdom, but in 1985 the scope was extended to include people from the rest of the Commonwealth realms...
. In 2006 she was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Letters) from the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
.
External links
- U.A. Fanthorpe Collection University of Gloucestershire Archives and Special Collections
- Fanthorpe reading her own poetry at The Poetry Archive
- The British Arts Council's Contemporary Writers page
- Article with biographical information from the Independent Online
- UA Fanthorpe Daily Telegraph obituary
- Portraits at the national Portrait Gallery
- "Reader's Corner 3: U. A. Fanthorpe & R. V. Bailey" Acumen No 50 - September 2004