Betjeman, John, Sir

1906 - Born on the 28th of August in Edwardian London.

1933 - Married Penelope Chetwode, the daughter of Field Marshal Lord Chetwode.

1939 - Betjeman was rejected for active service in World War II.

1941 - He became British press attaché in Dublin, Ireland.

Wrote poetry collections "New Bats in Old Belfries" 1945, "A Few Late Chrysanthemums" 1954, "Collected Poems" 1958.

1960 - Awarded the Queen's Medal for Poetry, and CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).

1968 - Companion of Literature, the Royal Society of Literature.

1972 - He became Poet Laureate.

1973 - Honorary Member, the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

1975 - Proposed that the Fine Rooms of Somerset House should house the Turner Bequest.

1984 - Suffered from Parkinson's Disease and died at his home in Trebetherick, Cornwall on 19th of May.