U.A. Fanthorpe dies

U.A. Fanthorpe, a surprise contender when the post of poet laureate was last up for grabs, has died at the age of 79.

Ursula Askham Fanthorpe, right, who preferred to be addressed by her initials, was admired for her sharp and witty poetry. She was awarded a CBE for services to literature in 2001 and, in 2003, the Queen's gold medal for poetry.

She was almost 50 when she published her first collection, Side Effects, having been head of English at Cheltenham Ladies College. Her partner of 44 years, academic and poet Rosie Bailey, said: "She was obviously incredibly gifted She loved to laugh and loved writing to say what interested her and what mattered to her most."