Adrian Mitchell, a renowned poet and playwright, is hailed as one of the greatest figures in English literature. With his powerful poetry, he became a prominent voice in the ‘Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament’ movement, advocating for peace and opposing war. His famous poem ‘To Whom It May Concern’ remains relevant today, as he continuously modified it to reflect current events. Mitchell’s creativity and deep understanding of the stage were evident from a young age, as he wrote his first play at just nine years old. His ability to connect with children through his writings has left a lasting impact, captivating young audiences with his plays and poems. His works have received international acclaim and numerous prestigious institutions have recognized his significant contributions to the literary world.
Quick Facts
- British Celebrities Born In October Died At Age: 76
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Celia Hewitt, Maureen Bush
- Father: Jock Mitchell
- Mother: Kathleen Fabian
- Children: Alistair Mitchell, Beattie Mitchell, Briony Mitchell, Danny Mitchell, Sasha Mitchell
- Quotes By Adrian Mitchell
- Poets
- Died on: December 20, 2008
- Place of death: London
- More Facts
- Education: Christ Church, Oxford, Monkton Combe School
- Awards:
- Eric Gregory Award – 1961
- The PEN Translation Prize – 1966
- The Tokyo Festival Television Film Award – 1971
- The CLPE Poetry Award – 2005
Childhood & Early Life
Adrian Mitchell was born on October 24, 1932, near Hampstead Heath to Jock Mitchell and Kathleen Fabian. His father was a research chemist and his mother was a school teacher. He attended Monkton Combe School and later Greenways School, where his first play was performed when he was only nine years old. He then went on to Dauntsey’s School in Wiltshire, where he and his friend Gordon Snell composed and performed several plays. In 1951, he was recruited to the Royal Air Force, although he did not intend to join. After a year, he pursued his studies in English at Christ Church college, Oxford University, where he served as an editor of the university’s Isis Magazine and chaired the poetry society.
Career
After graduating from Oxford University, Mitchell worked as a reporter for the Oxford Mail for two years. He then joined the Evening Standard in London for three years. He began writing novels and plays for television and worked as a freelance journalist, writing for newspapers such as the Daily Mail, Sun, and Sunday Times. In the 1960s, he resigned from his journalism career and focused on his literary works, composing poems, stories, and plays. One of his notable works during this time was the novel “If You See Me Coming” in 1962. He also taught at the Writers Workshop in the University of Iowa and the University of Lancaster as a Granada Fellow in the Arts. He continued to write novels, plays, and poems throughout his career, with a particular focus on works for children.
Major Works
One of Mitchell’s most renowned works is the poem “To Whom It May Concern,” which has an anti-war tone and was first recited in 1965 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He received the Eric Gregory Award in 1961 and the PEN Prize for translation in 1966. He was also awarded the Tokyo Festival Award for Television in 1971 and the Gold Medal of the Theatre of Poetry. In 1997, he received an honorary degree from North London University and was designated the Shadow Poet Laureate by Red Pepper Magazine. In 2004, his collection of children’s poetry was named the Best Collection of Children’s Poetry by the Poetry Book Society.
Personal Life & Legacy
Mitchell was married twice. He had three children with his first wife, Maureen Bush, and two daughters with his second wife, Celia Hewitt. Celia is an actress and owns a book shop called Ripping Yarns. Mitchell passed away on December 28, 2008, from a heart attack. In 2012, a volume of his poems titled “Come on Everybody: Poems 1953-2008” was published posthumously.