Fanthorpe, U.A. (Ursula Askham)

(1929- )

   Born in Kent, she was educated at St. Anne's College, Oxford, and the University of London Institute of Education. She became an English teacher, then from 1962-70 was head of English at Cheltenham Ladies' College. She holds honorary doctorates from the University of West England and the University of Gloucestershire, and was awarded Hawthornden Fellowships between 1987 and 1997. In 1989 she became a full-time writer; in 1994 she was the first woman to be nominated for the post of Oxford professor of poetry, and in 1999 was a leading contender for the post of poet laureate. In 2001 she was made commander of the British Empire for services to poetry, and was also awarded the 2003 Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. She lives in Gloucestershire. Her collection of 137 poems, Otia Sacra (sacred meditations), published in 1648, he translated many of the works of several classical poets. Some of his poems: "16-December 1641," "3 Graces," "A Dedication of My First Son," "At Newmarket Horse Race," "Epitaph of Sir Foulk Hunkes," "Humane Science Handmaid to Divine," "In Praise of Fidelia," "The Yong Man and Christ," "The Yong Protector Unprotected."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. Early Modern Literary Studies (http://www.shu.ac.uk/emls/09-1/mcraerev.html). English Poetry: Author Search. ChadwyckHealey Ltd., 1995 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu:8080/search/epoetry/author.html). Life of Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland (http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/fane/fanebio.htm). The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Columbia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org). The National Portrait Gallery (www.npg.org.uk). The Poetry of Mildmay Fane, Second Earl of Westmorland. Tom Cain, ed. Manchester University Press, 2001.