AN 88-year-old poet and playwright had a “double celebration” this Christmas after being recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.
Dr Dannie Abse from Golders Green was awarded a CBE for services to poetry and literature.
The father-of-three, said: “I told my kids on Christmas day and so we had a double celebration.”
Dr Abse was born in Cardiff and studied medicine in Wales and King's College in London before qualifying as a doctor in 1950.
He bases a lot of his written work on life experience including his medical background.
Dr Abse, who has three grandchildren, said: “I also have my family life to call upon, and my interests such as football.”
He added: “My wife was killed in a car crash in 2005 and I’ve written a book about that called The Presence. I’ve received a lot of letters from people who have been consoled by my book.”
He had been married to his wife Joan for more than fifty years when she died.
Throughout his career Dr Abse has written and edited more than 16 books of poetry and fiction. He has also published an autobiography called Goodbye Twentieth Century.
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