Watson 3

WINIFRED WATSON (1907 - 2002)

Winifred Watson was born in Whitley Bay and went to school at St Ronan's in Berwick. Her father owned three shops in Newcastle where she was brought up and spent most of her life. Winifred worked as a secretary until 1935 then commenced her six novels, including Fell Top (1935) and Odd Shoes (1936). Her fourth novel became extremely popular with the public. Entitled Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (1938) it was described as 'jolly, deliciously naughty and frolicsome'. The rights were bought by Hollywood and a projected film was to star Billie Burke (the good witch Glinda in The Wizard of Oz). The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941 disrupted plans, however, and the film was never made.

Winifred was bombed out at Matthew Bank in Jesmond, and only just saved her baby son. She did produce a last novel Leave and Bequeath (1943), but had no regrets about giving up authorship: 'You have to be alone if you're writing'.

In 2000 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was reissued by Persephone, and Maureen Lipman (a fan of the novel) read it on BBC Radio 4. A Hollywood film was being projected in 2006, with Jennifer Aniston among others vying for the role of Miss La Fosse.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
WINIFRED WATSON (1907 - 2002) Winifred Watson was born in Whitley Bay and went to school at St Ronan's in Berwick. Her father owned three shops in Newcastle where she was brought up and spent most of her life. Winifred worked as a secretary until 1935 then commenced her six novels, including Fell Top (1935) and Odd Shoes (1936). Her fourth novel became extremely popular with the public. Entitled Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (1938) it was described as 'jolly, deliciously naughty and frolicsome'. The rights were bought by Hollywood and a projected film was to star Billie Burke (the good witch Glinda in The Wizard of Oz). The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941 disrupted plans, however, and the film was never made. Winifred was bombed out at Matthew Bank in Jesmond, and only just saved her baby son. She did produce a last novel Leave and Bequeath (1943), but had no regrets about giving up authorship: 'You have to be alone if you're writing'. In 2000 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was reissued by Persephone, and Maureen Lipman (a fan of the novel) read it on BBC Radio 4. A Hollywood film was being projected in 2006, with Jennifer Aniston among others vying for the role of Miss La Fosse.
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