Person    | Female  Born 9/8/1899  Died 23/4/1996

P. L. Travers

Categories: Children, Literature

Countries: Australia

Author. Born Helen Lyndon Goff in Maryborough, Queensland. She emigrated to England at the age of 25 and adopted the name Pamela Lyndon Travers whilst writing the Mary Poppins novels for which she is best known, the first being published in 1934. There were eight in the series.

During WW2 she worked for the British Ministry of Information and travelled to America. Whilst there, she was contacted by Walt Disney with a view to selling him the rights to filming the Poppins novels. It was many years though before she finally agreed, and even then she disliked the film.

The story is told in the film 'Saving Mr. Banks' in which she is portrayed by Emma Thompson. She never married but lived for over a decade with Madge Burnand in a relationship that was described as 'intense'. Aged 40 she adopted an Irish baby boy, who became known as Camillus Travers. She died in London.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
P. L. Travers

Commemorated ati

P. L Travers

P. L Travers, 1899 - 1996, author or Mary Poppins, lived and worked here, 194...

Read More

Other Subjects

Coram's Fields

Coram's Fields

The memorial at the entrance to these fields tells how this playground came into existence. It is the only public space in London where adults are not allowed without children.

Place, Children, Gardens / Agriculture

3 memorials
Raine Foundation School

Raine Foundation School

This school was founded in what is now Raine Street by Henry Raine (1679 - 1738) in 1719, though the street was then known as Fawdon Lane, Charles Street. The school provided an education for local...

Group, Children, Education

2 memorials
Jack Cornwell, VC

Jack Cornwell, VC

Sailor. Born as John Travers Cornwell in Clyde Place, Leyton, he enlisted in the Royal Navy at the age of 15. Killed at the Battle of Jutland, aged 16. He was serving on H.M.S. Chester during the ...

Person, Armed Forces, Children

War dead, WW1
6 memorials
Osman Sharif

Osman Sharif

Killed aged 16. Evening Stardard reports an arrest of another 16 year old suspected of stabbing Sharif. Our photo was taken from a framed image at the shrine.

Person, Children, Tragedy

1 memorial
Sir John Kirk

Sir John Kirk

J.P., Christian philanthropist, the children's friend.  Not to be confused with Sir John Kirk (1832-1922), the African explorer.  Sir John's great great grandson, Peter Mitchell, contacted us to sa...

Person, Children, Education, Philanthropy

1 memorial