Elisabeth Beresford obituary on Radio 4

Elisabeth Beresford is featured in BBC Radio 4’s weekly obituary programme, Last Word, which marks the lives of significant figures who have died recently.

Presented by Matthew Bannister, the programme includes tributes from Bernard Cribbins and Mike Batt, Elisabeth’s son Marcus Robertson, and some interview clips from Elisabeth herself.

The programme was broadcast on Friday, 31 December 2010 at 4pm, and will be repeated on Sunday, 2 January 2011 at 8.30pm. You can listen to it on the BBC iPlayer, or download the podcast version for the next 30 days.

This week’s programme also pays tribute to political commentator Anthony Howard, BBC news reporter Brian Hanrahan, judge James Pickles and musician Captain Beefheart.

The programme description says:

ELISABETH BERESFORD

Author and creator of The Wombles, who has died aged 84.

Elisabeth Beresford was the prolific children’s author who created the Wombles of Wimbledon Common. Her books about the furry creatures who dedicated themselves to cleaning up and recycling litter were turned into animated films shown on BBC television.

Elisabeth Beresford came from a literary family. Her father, JD Beresford, was a successful writer, part of a circle that included HG Wells, Rudyard Kipling and DH Lawrence. Elisabeth’s godfather and godmother were the poets Walter De La Mare and Eleanor Farjeon.

During the war Elisabeth served in the Wrens as a wireless telegraphist. She went on to work for BBC Radio as a reporter on the Today programme and Woman’s Hour, before writing her first children’s story in 1964.

Matthew spoke to her son Marcus Robertson, to the actor Bernard Cribbins and to the musician Mike Batt.

Elisabeth Beresford was born 6 August 1926 and died 24 December 2010.