Lynne Reid Banks dead aged 94: Much-loved British author dies of cancer as family pays tribute to ‘massive legacy’ – The US Sun

NATIONAL treasure, Lynne Reid Banks, has sadly died aged 94 after her cancer battle.

The beloved author passed away “peacefully with her family around her” on Thursday afternoon, confirmed her literary agent.

Devoted son, Gillon Stephenson, said his mother “leaves a massive legacy of wonderful work”.

He added every day he “receives messages from people saying what a difference she has made”.

The British author was born in Barnes, West London, in 1929.

As a young girl she was evacuated with her mother and cousin, Christopher, in 1940 during World War Two.

The family were sent to Saskatoon in the Canadian prairies for five years.

She attended St Teresa’s School Effingham in Surrey and before becoming a prolific writer, Lynne was an actress.

Lynne wrote on her website: “I had my heart set on being an actress.

“Luckily for me, my mother insisted on my ‘learning a trade’ – shorthand-typing – before allowing me to go to drama school (RADA), after which I spent several years finding out the hard way (weekly rep) that I was not destined to become a star like my mother. “

The author was also one of the first women in Britain to turn her hand at television journalism.

“I was one of the first two women news reporters on British TV – ITN – years before the BBC caught up,” wrote Lynne.

The TV journo interviews a host of A-listers including including Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Louis Armstrong and Agatha Christie.

She was also instrumental in starting vox pop street interviews.

Lynne told how during her free time she wrote a novel titled The L-Shaped Room.

It turned out to be an unexpected hit and was turned into a film, starring Leslie Caron – who won an Oscar nomination for best actress, as well as a Bafta and Golden Globe award.

In 1962, Lynne moved to Israel, where she taught English for eight years.

She tied the knot with husband Chaim Stephenson three years later, and the couple shared three sons together.

Her books One More River, Broken Bridge, An End to Running, and Children at the Gate were all inspired by her time in Israel.

The novelist moved back to the UK and was residing in Surrey from the early 1970s.

In October 2013, Lynne was handed the J. M. Barrie award for outstanding contribution to children’s arts.

She wrote many much-loved children’s stories including The Red Red Dragon, Tiger Tiger, Angela And Diabola and picture book, The Spice Rack.

The first book from her The Indian In The Cupboard series was released in 1980 and the popular story was turned into a film.

Comedian Steve Coogan starred in 1995 on-screen version of the tale.

Lynne shared the inspiration behind one of her most popular series and said: “I wrote book after non-best-selling book, until I stumbled upon the idea of bringing a toy plastic American Indian to life in a magic cupboard.

“This was helped in no small part by my youngest son, Omri, for whom it started as a bedtime story.

“Even though by today’s progressive rules I misnamed him, my little Native American has done very well for me, selling millions of copies, and being turned into a movie in 1995.”