Pam Ayres

Infobox Writer
name = Pam Ayres


imagesize = 220px
caption = Cover of Pam Ayres' book Dear Mum: poems for Mums and Their Babies (1985)
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birthdate = Birth date and age|1947|03|14|df=yes
birthplace = Stanford in the Vale, England
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occupation =
nationality = British
period =
genre = Poetry, Songs
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website = http://www.pamayres.com/

Pam Ayres MBE (born 14 March 1947) is an English poet, songwriter and presenter of radio and television.

Early life

Pam Ayres was born at Stanford in the Vale in the English county of Berkshire (now Oxfordshire). After leaving Faringdon Secondary School at the age of 15, she joined the Civil Service as a clerical assistant. She soon left and signed up for the Women's Royal Air Force, and it was there that she chose her career as an entertainer. She began reading her verses at the local folk club in Oxfordshire, and this led to an invitation to read on the local BBC radio station in 1974. Her reading was re-broadcast nationally, and then broadcast again as one of the BBC's "Pick of the Year".

Career

In 1975 Ayres appeared on the television talent show "Opportunity Knocks". This led to a wide variety of guest appearances on TV and radio shows. Since then she has published six books of poems, toured in a one woman stage show, briefly hosted her own TV show and performed her stage show for the Queen. In September 2006, a BBC website stated that Bob Dylan inspired Pam Ayres to write poetry, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5311602.stm#10things BBC NEWS | Magazine | The Magazine Monitor ] ] although in an interview (aired on Radio New Zealand's "Nine To Noon" programme, 24 October 2006) Pam stated that the Lonnie Donegan records her brother played were her inspiration.

Her poetry has a simple style and deals with everyday subject matter. Her poem "I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth", was voted into the Top 10 of a BBC poll to find the Nation's "100 Favourite Comic Poems". In the UK Arts Council's report on poetry Ayres was identified as the fifth best-selling poet in Britain during 1998 and 1999. However, in 2000 her TV show was ranked at number 64 in Channel 4's "100 Greatest Moments from TV Hell".

Ayres is married to theatre producer Dudley Russell, and they have two sons, William and James. They live in the Cotswolds, and keep some rare breeds of cattle, as well as some sheep, pigs, chickens, and guinea fowl. Pam is a keen gardener and beekeeper. [ [http://www.pamayres.com/biog.asp Pam Ayres - Biography ] ]

In June 2004 she was awarded the MBE for services to literature and entertainment.

Pam continues to actively perform her work, the humorous quality of which is enhanced by her idiosyncratic delivery. Starting in September 2006 to coincide with the release of her latest book and audio CD, Ayres gave dozens of performances in various locations in the United Kingdom and Australia, with additional dates scheduled for the UK and New Zealand in 2007.

From 1996, Ayres has appeared regularly on BBC Radio. From 1996 until 1999 Pam presented a two-hour music and chat show every Sunday afternoon on BBC Radio 2; this was followed by two series of "Pam Ayres’ Open Road", in which Pam visited various parts of the United Kingdom, interviewing people with interesting stories to tell about their lives and local areas. More recently Pam has become a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4, appearing in programmes such as "Just a Minute", "Say The Word", "That Reminds Me", and two series of her own show, "Ayres On The Air", a radio show of her poetry and sketches. [ [http://www.pamayres.com/index.asp Pam Ayres ] ] Bizarrely, she also confessed her involvement with MI6 around this time; sources say the poet worked as an agent for several years.

In mid-2007, Ayres started work acting in a new radio sitcom, "Potting On" for BBC Radio 4, in which she co-stars with actor Geoffrey Whitehead. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/pottingon/pip/z18ey/ BBC - Radio 4 - Potting On - Stones ] ] Following this, Pam will start writing and recording the third series of her BBC Radio 4 programme "Ayres On The Air", which is due on air in the United Kingdom in early 2008. [ [http://www.pamayres.com/index.asp Pam Ayres ] ]

Since 2002 Ayres has appeared a number of times on Channel Four in Countdown's Dictionary Corner alongside Susie Dent.

Music

Pam Ayres is well known for her witty and humorous songs. One particular classic is "‘They Should Have Asked My Husband"'. The song is a favourite among Pam fans with its witty anecdotes and clever use of rhyme.

elect bibliography

*Pam Ayres, "Surgically Enhanced", (Hodder & Stoughton, Sep 2006). ISBN 0-340-92278-8.
*Pam Ayres, "Pam Ayres: Ancient and Modern" (Audio CD), (Hodder & Stoughton, Nov 2006). ISBN 1-844-56318-9.
*Pam Ayres, "With These Hands: A Collection ", (Orion, Feb 1998). ISBN 0-752-81553-9.
*Pam Ayres, "Pam Ayres: The Works", (BBC Books, Sep 1992). ISBN 0-563-36751-2.
*Pam Ayres, "Dear Mum: Poems for Mums and Their Babies", (Severn House Publishers, 1985). ISBN 0-727-82066-4.
*Pam Ayres, "Some More of Me Poetry", (1st ed., 1976). ISBN 0-950-47741-9.
*Pam Ayres, "Some of Me Poetry". ISBN 0-950-47740-0.

References

External links

* [http://www.pamayres.com/ www.pamayres.com] (Official website)
* [http://monologues.co.uk/First_Ladies/Wonderbra_Song.htm The Wonderbra Song] - an example of Pam's poetry
* [http://web.tampabay.rr.com/jownley/pamayres.htm Several more examples of Pam Ayres' poetry] (Note: this page has an embedded music file).
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20040319221939/womansworld.atalink.co.uk/articles/article-21.phtml Interview with Woman's World] (archived)