John Betjeman | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Betjeman in 1961 | |
| Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom | |
| In office 20 October 1972 – 19 May 1984 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Cecil Day-Lewis |
| Succeeded by | Ted Hughes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Betjemann 28 August 1906 London, England |
| Died | 19 May 1984 (aged 77) Trebetherick, Cornwall, England |
| Spouse | |
| Domestic partner | Lady Elizabeth Cavendish |
| Children | 2, including Candida Lycett Green |
| Education | Marlborough College |
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Poet, writer, broadcaster |
Sir John Betjeman, CBE (/ˈbɛtʃəmən/; 28 August 1906 – 19 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster. He was Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. He was a founding member of The Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture, helping to save St Pancras railway station from demolition. He began his career as a journalist and ended it as one of the most popular British Poets Laureate and a much-loved figure on British television.