Annie Caulfield (1959-2016)

Travel writer, dramatist and broadcaster, Annie Caulfield liked to tell stories, whatever the form. She published regularly in newspapers and magazines. Her travel books explore Australia, Benin and Jordan. Her most recent Irish Blood, English Heart, Ulster Fry tells of journeys through her homeland, Northern Ireland. She was researching a new book on Cambodia.

Annie made documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and appeared on From Our Own Correspondent and Crossing Continents. She was also a frequent guest on light-hearted discussion shows such as Radio 4’s Off the Page. Although beginning her career as a joke writer for Lenny Henry, Annie wrote quite sombre radio plays for the comedian, including the BBC Radio 3 biography of Paul Robeson, Still the Same Paul. Her radio drama After You’ve Gone, about the African-American singing duo Layton and Johnstone, received a race-in-the-media award. Annie was awarded a Peggy Ramsay bursary for her stage work. Her play for Clean Break Theatre Company, Didn’t Die, about women in secure units, won a Time Out magazine award.

Annie’s children’s book, Katie Milk Solves Crimes, was shortlisted for the Glen Dimplex award and longlisted for Ottakars’ book awards. Annie created the Grim Tales children’s series for Channel 4, scriptedited The Real McCoy comedy series and wrote episodes of the cult show This Life. Her Radio 4 drama Dusty Won’t Play, about Dusty Springfield’s 1964 stand against apartheid, was a Tinniswood prize finalist and a film version was commissioned. Annie lived in London and Granada.