How Did a Journalist Become a Poet After Studying at Age 39?
In short: Diana Hendry's writing career took an unexpected turn, beginning after she earned her degree at the University of Bristol when she was 39. A chance meeting with a professor's wife proved pivotal, leading to the suggestion of a publisher that launched her success.
Diana Lois Hendry, born on October 2, 1941, is recognized as an English poet, children's author, and short story writer. Her early professional life included work as a journalist in print and radio, notably holding a position at The Western Mail in Cardiff from 1960 to 1965. A significant turning point in her trajectory occurred when she attained a university degree at the University of Bristol at the age of 39. It was through this connection that she met the wife of a professor, who was herself an author. This acquaintance saw her writing and recommended a publisher, thereby initiating a successful writing career.
Hendry's literary output is diverse, encompassing over 40 books for children, including the title *Harvey Angell*, which earned her a Whitbread Award in 1991. Her poetry collections for adults include *Making Blue* (Peterloo, 1995) and *Borderers* (Peterloo, 2001). Her influences are drawn from notable writers such as Muriel Spark, Albert Camus, Elizabeth Bishop, Seamus Heaney, and Charles Langbridge Morgan. She has also been recognized with several awards, such as winning first prize at the 1996 Housman Society Competition for her poetry, and being shortlisted for the Costa Book Award in 2013.
Her professional development continued through teaching roles, where she instructed English at a boys' school and later taught creative writing at the University of Bristol between 1995 and 1997. Furthermore, she has contributed to various literary platforms, writing for *The Spectator* magazine and tutoring at the Arvon Foundation. Her commitment to her craft is evidenced by her multiple fellowships, including one at the University of Edinburgh in 2013, and another at the Office of Lifelong Learning, also at the University of Edinburgh in 2009.
The timeline of her achievements shows a steady progression: she secured first prize at the Stroud International Poetry Competition in 1976, and was shortlisted for the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in 1985. The narrative of her success is punctuated by the 1991 Whitbread Award for *Harvey Angell*, followed by winning the Housman Society Poetry Competition in 1996.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Diana Hendry
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