PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Nancy Spain was a prominent novelist, broadcaster and journalist. She was a columnist for the Daily Express and She magazine in the 1950s and 1960s. She also appeared on many radio broadcasts, particularly on Woman's Hour, and later as a panellist on the television programmes What's My Line? and Juke Box Jury. Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1917, she was the great-niece of the legendary Mrs Beeton. During the second world war she worked as a driver and served in the WRNS and after the war she published several detective novels set at a girls' school. Always controversial, her column-writing caused the Daily Express to be sued - twice - by Evelyn Waugh.
She was bold, she was brave, she was funny, she was feisty. I owe her a great deal in leading the way It is cruel that all that gaiety, intelligence and vitality should be snuffed out, when so many bores and horrors are left living Some people thought her merely bohemian, but others were grateful to have so engaging a role-model - INDEPENDENT Nancy's great qualities were her zest for life and her warm, North-country heart - TATLER
