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Line 27: '''Deric Francis Longden''' (29 November 1936 – 23 June 2013) was a British writer, autobiographer, reporter, public speaker and broadcaster. ==~~Early~~Life ~~life~~and career== ===Early years=== Longden was born in [[Chesterfield, Derbyshire]]. He was the son of Frederick Longden (16 September 1908 – 1969) and Annie Mary Longden (née Wright, 23 August 1910 – 1988) who were married in 1933.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=FreeBMD Entry Info \|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=168766084:0631&d=bmd_1682618632~~</ref><ref>https://~~ \|access-date=2023-06-28 \|website=www.freebmd.org.uk~~/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=242650433:1137&d=bmd_1682618632~~}}</ref><ref name=telobit>{{cite news\|last1=Staff writer\|title=Deric Longden: Deric Longden, who has died aged 76, wrote books that brought a gentle and life-enhancing humour to the problems of living with disability.\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/books-obituaries/10160973/Deric-Longden.html\|accessdate=3 September 2014\|work=The Telegraph\|date=4 July 2013}}</ref> Longden left school at 15. He married Diana Hill in 1958 and they had two children together, a son and a daughter.<ref name=telobit/> After various jobs he took over a small women's lingerie factory, but began writing and broadcasting in the 1970s for programmes like ''[[Does He Take Sugar?]]'' and ''[[Woman's Hour]]'' on [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref name=telobit/> Longden worked for [[BBC Radio Derby]] for around 30 years and was also a football reporter.<ref>{{Citation \|title=Aileen Armitage: Presentation to Swanwick Writers' School August 2014 \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oTH1kEObNg~~&ab_channel~~ \|access-date=2023-06-28 \|language=~~bibliophilebooks~~en}}</ref> Most of his work was based on his own experience.<ref name=telobit/> His wife Diana's illness, which left her wheelchair-bound and in almost constant pain, subsequently believed to be a form of chronic fatigue syndrome or [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]], forced him to sell the factory. Afterwards, he worked as a full-time writer, broadcaster and speaker.<ref name=telobit/>▼ ~~==Career==~~ ▲After various jobs he took over a small women's lingerie factory, but began writing and broadcasting in the 1970s for programmes like ''[[Does He Take Sugar?]]'' and ''[[Woman's Hour]]'' on [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref name=telobit/> Longden worked for [[BBC Radio Derby]] for around 30 years and was also a football reporter.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oTH1kEObNg&ab_channel=bibliophilebooks</ref> Most of his work was based on his own experience.<ref name=telobit/> His wife Diana's illness, which left her wheelchair-bound and in almost constant pain, subsequently believed to be a form of chronic fatigue syndrome or [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]], forced him to sell the factory. Afterwards, he worked as a full-time writer, broadcaster and speaker.<ref name=telobit/> ===~~Books~~1980s===▼ In 1984 Longden met the partially-sighted novelist [[Aileen Armitage]] at a writers' conference. At the conference they discussed writing a television script together about disability, with ~~Deric~~Longden's wife Diana, at the heart of the story. ~~Aileen~~Armitage and Diana became devoted friends, notwithstanding the evident attraction ~~Longden~~between Deric and Aileen ~~felt for one another~~; indeed, Diana hoped that they would marry after her death. Diana Longden died in 1985~~. The bestselling ''Diana’s Story'' was published in 1989~~. ''~~Diana's~~Diana’s Story'' (was published in 1989) and became a bestseller. The book describes his life with his rapidly deteriorating wife, who was suffering from an illness that doctors at that time could not understand.▼ Longden's first two books were adapted for television, the first retitled ''[[Wide-Eyed and Legless]]''.<ref name=telobit/> The second, ''[[Lost for Words (1999 TV film)\|Lost for Words]]'', was screened in January 1999 and won the [[Emmy]] for best foreign drama and a [[BAFTA]] for [[Thora Hird]] as best actress.<ref name=telobit/> ===1990s=== ~~Longeden and Armitage later moved to [[Huddersfield]], [[West Yorkshire]].<ref name=telobit/>~~ Longden and Armitage married in 1990.<ref>https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=287579415:9422&d=bmd_1685449923 {{Bare URL inline\|date=August 2024}}</ref> Longden published a second book, ''Lost For Words'', in 1991. This book focusses on Longden's eccentric mother Annie and her life as an elderly woman living alone, grappling with the effects of strokes and her decline into old age. ==Works==▼ ▲===Books=== ▲''Diana's Story'' (1989) describes his life with his rapidly deteriorating wife, who was suffering from an illness that doctors at that time could not understand. ''Lost For Words'' (1991) continues the story of Deric's life, focusing on his eccentric mother Annie, as she grapples with old age, senile dementia and the effects of several strokes. In the 1990s Longden published a further three books, ''The Cat Who Came in from the Cold'' (1991), ''I'm a Stranger Here Myself'' (1994) and ''Enough to Make a Cat Laugh'' (1996), which describe his life with Armitage and their cats. ~~Longden's subsequent books describe his life with his second wife, novelist [[Aileen Armitage]], and their cats:~~ ===~~Televison~~=TV films====▼ ''The Cat Who Came in from the Cold'' (1991) introduces kitten Thermal.▼ Longden's first book, ''Diana's Story'' ~~(1989)~~, was adapted for television in 1993 with the release of the TV film ''[[Wide-Eyed and Legless]]'', known as ''The Wedding Gift'' in the US, starring [[Julie Walters]] as Diana Longden, [[Jim Broadbent]] as Deric Longden, [[Sian Thomas]] as Aileen Armitage and [[Thora Hird]] as Deric's mother Annie Longden.~~<ref name=telobit/>~~ Longden co-wrote the script with [[Jack Rosenthal]].<ref name=telobit/>▼ ''I'm a Stranger Here Myself'' (1994) concerns Deric and Aileen's move to Huddersfield.▼ ''Enough to Make a Cat Laugh'' (1996)▼ ''A Play on Words'' (2000) describes the making of the TV films ''Wide-Eyed and Legless'' and ''Lost For Words'' as well as Longden's reactions to seeing actors play himself and his mother. He wrote how Thora Hird's performance was so powerfully convincing that his memory ended up confusing the two.▼ ''Paws in the Proceedings'' (2007)▼ ''Tailpieces'' (2012) is a special personal collection of Longden's favourite short stories and articles on cats.▼ ~~HIs~~In 1998, Longden's second book, ''Lost ~~For~~for Words'' ~~(1991)~~, was also ~~made~~adapted ~~into~~for atelevision. ''[[Lost for Words (1999 TV film)\|TVLost ~~film of~~for ~~the same title~~Words]]'' was screened in ~~1999,~~January ~~starring~~1999. Thora Hird~~, who~~ reprised her role as Annie Longden, whilst the other cast members were replaced.: [[Pete Postlethwaite]] played Deric Longden and [[Penny Downie]] played Armitage.<ref name=telobit/> Longden also wrote the script for this.<ref name=telobit/> HeLongden ~~has~~and Armitage each have a cameo as a voice on an answerphone~~, as does his wife~~.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0174882/fullcredits#cast\|title = Lost for Words (TV Movie 1999) - IMDb\|website = [[IMDb]]}}</ref> The film won the [[Emmy]] for best foreign drama and a [[BAFTA]] for Hird as best actress.<ref name=telobit/> The film was repeated on [[ITV1\|ITV]] in 2012, following the death of Pete Postlethwaite.▼ ▲===Televison films=== ~~====''Wide-Eyed and Legless'' a.k.a. ''The Wedding Gift''====~~ ▲Longden's book ''Diana's Story'' (1989) was adapted for television in 1993 with the release of the TV film ''[[Wide-Eyed and Legless]]'', known as ''The Wedding Gift'' in the US, starring [[Julie Walters]] as Diana Longden, [[Jim Broadbent]] as Deric Longden, [[Sian Thomas]] as Aileen Armitage and [[Thora Hird]] as Deric's mother Annie Longden.<ref name=telobit/> Longden co-wrote the script with [[Jack Rosenthal]].<ref name=telobit/> ===~~=''Lost for Words''=~~2000s=== ▲In 2000 Longden published another book. ''A Play on Words'' ~~(2000)~~ describes the making of the TV films ''Wide-Eyed and Legless'' and ''Lost For Words'' as well as Longden's reactions to seeing actors play himself and his mother. He wrote how Thora Hird's performance as his mother was so ~~powerfully~~ convincing that his memory ended up confusing the two. ▲HIs book ''Lost For Words'' (1991) was also made into a [[Lost for Words (1999 TV film)\|TV film of the same title]] in 1999, starring Thora Hird, who reprised her role, whilst the other cast members were replaced. [[Pete Postlethwaite]] played Deric Longden and [[Penny Downie]] played Armitage.<ref name=telobit/> Longden also wrote the script for this.<ref name=telobit/> He has a cameo as a voice on an answerphone, as does his wife.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0174882/fullcredits#cast\|title = Lost for Words (TV Movie 1999) - IMDb\|website = [[IMDb]]}}</ref> The film was repeated on [[ITV1\|ITV]] in 2012, following the death of Pete Postlethwaite. A further book, ''Paws in the Proceedings'' followed in 2007. ~~==Death==~~ Longden had been ill for several years and he died of [[Esophageal cancer\|cancer of the oesophagus]] on 23 June 2013.<ref name=obit>{{cite news\|last=Kilcommons\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary:Deric Longden\|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2013/06/25/obituary-deric-longden-86081-33521405/\|accessdate=25 June 2013\|newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner\|date=25 June 2013}}</ref>▼ ===2010s=== ▲Longden's last book, '~~Tailpieces~~'TailPieces'' (2012), is a special personal collection of ~~Longden's~~his favourite short stories and articles on cats. ==Later life and death== Longden and Armitage lived together in Huddersfield.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Deric Longden \|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/books-obituaries/10160973/Deric-Longden.html \|access-date=2023-06-28 \|website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> Longden was ill during the last decade of his life. He suffered a series of [[stroke\|ministrokes]] which meant he was unable to write. He also suffered from [[epilepsy]] and for 18 months was unable to drive as a result of this. He gradually withdrew from public life. In 2007 he had an abdominal aortic [[aneurysm]] and his life was saved by surgery.<ref>https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/best-selling-huddersfield-author-deric-longden-4937107 {{Bare URL inline\|date=August 2024}}</ref> In 2012 he lost his voice for about eight months due to oesophagus complications. An injection into his vocal chords allowed him to speak again.<ref>https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/best-selling-huddersfield-author-deric-longden-4937107 {{Bare URL inline\|date=August 2024}}</ref> ▲~~Longden~~On ~~had~~19 ~~been~~November ~~ill~~2012, ~~for~~he ~~several~~was ~~years~~diagnosed ~~and~~with terminal cancer.<ref>https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/best-selling-huddersfield-author-deric-longden-4937107 {{Bare URL inline\|date=August 2024}}</ref> On 23 June 2013, he died of [[Esophageal cancer\|cancer of the oesophagus]], onaged ~~23 June 2013~~76.<ref name=obit>{{cite news\|last=Kilcommons\|first=Denis\|title=Obituary:Deric Longden\|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2013/06/25/obituary-deric-longden-86081-33521405/\|accessdate=25 June 2013\|newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner\|date=25 June 2013}}</ref> ▲==~~Works~~Books== ''Diana's Story'' (1989) ''Lost For Words'' (1991) ▲''The Cat Who Came in from the Cold'' (1991) ~~introduces kitten Thermal.~~ ▲''I'm a Stranger Here Myself'' (1994) ~~concerns Deric and Aileen's move to Huddersfield.~~ ▲''Enough to Make a Cat Laugh'' (1996) ''A Play on Words'' (2000) ▲''Paws in the Proceedings'' (2007) *''TailPieces'' (2012) ==References== Line 78 ⟶ 94: [[Category:1936 births]] [[Category:2013 deaths]] [[Category:Deaths from esophageal cancer in England]] ~~[[Category:Deaths from esophageal cancer]]~~ [[Category:English autobiographers]] [[Category:English screenwriters]] Line 85 ⟶ 100: [[Category:People from Chesterfield, Derbyshire]] [[Category:English male non-fiction writers]] [[Category:~~People~~Writers from Huddersfield]]