MS 909
Reference code
MS 909
Title
Anne Ridler papers
Level
Sub-fonds
Administrative / Biographical history
Ridler, Anne (1912-2001)
Anne Barbara Ridler [née Bradby] (1912–2001), poet and writer, was born on 30 July 1912 at School Field, Rugby, Warwickshire. Her parents were Henry Christopher Bradby (1868–1947), a housemaster at Rugby School, and Violet Alice, née Milford (1871–1956), who wrote children's books, including The Enchanted Forest (1921) and The Crimson Ramblers (1922). Her eldest brother was killed in action during the First World War. Ridler received a secondary education at Downe House, Newbury.
After leaving school, Ridler spent several months in Florence and Rome, and on her return to England began a course in journalism at King’s College. She found work with Faber and Faber as secretary to one of its directors, T.S. Eliot, who encouraged her to ‘go on’ with her own poetry (Memoirs, 122).
In 1938 Ridler married Vivian Hughes Ridler (1913-2009), a printer; the couple went on to have four children. Vivian would print ‘Poems’, Ridler’s first collection, for Oxford University Press in 1939. The volume was followed by The Nine Bright Shiners in 1943. As well as poetry, Ridler wrote plays, libretti and literary criticism.
In 1998 Ridler became a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and received the Cholmondeley award for poetry. In 2001 she was appointed OBE. She died at home on 15th October 2001.
Refences: Ronald Gordon, ‘Ridler, Anne Barbara (1912–2001)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Jan 2005; online edn, Jan 2013 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/76404, accessed 12 May 2015]
Anne Barbara Ridler [née Bradby] (1912–2001), poet and writer, was born on 30 July 1912 at School Field, Rugby, Warwickshire. Her parents were Henry Christopher Bradby (1868–1947), a housemaster at Rugby School, and Violet Alice, née Milford (1871–1956), who wrote children's books, including The Enchanted Forest (1921) and The Crimson Ramblers (1922). Her eldest brother was killed in action during the First World War. Ridler received a secondary education at Downe House, Newbury.
After leaving school, Ridler spent several months in Florence and Rome, and on her return to England began a course in journalism at King’s College. She found work with Faber and Faber as secretary to one of its directors, T.S. Eliot, who encouraged her to ‘go on’ with her own poetry (Memoirs, 122).
In 1938 Ridler married Vivian Hughes Ridler (1913-2009), a printer; the couple went on to have four children. Vivian would print ‘Poems’, Ridler’s first collection, for Oxford University Press in 1939. The volume was followed by The Nine Bright Shiners in 1943. As well as poetry, Ridler wrote plays, libretti and literary criticism.
In 1998 Ridler became a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and received the Cholmondeley award for poetry. In 2001 she was appointed OBE. She died at home on 15th October 2001.
Refences: Ronald Gordon, ‘Ridler, Anne Barbara (1912–2001)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Jan 2005; online edn, Jan 2013 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/76404, accessed 12 May 2015]
Date
20th century
Extent & medium
1 box
Content description
Papers consist predominantly of autograph poetry manuscripts and typescript drafts. There are also four autograph and typed letters signed from Anne Ridler and a collection of greetings cards from Anne and Vivian Ridler (1913-2009), printed by Vivian Ridler.
Provenance
Papers given by Anne Ridler to Eton College Library.
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