Anne Valery - South Hampstead High 1933 - 1939

Media

I enclose my brief CV, as I have had so many careers! However, my main work has been as a writer. I have written over 50 dramas for the BBC and ITV, including half of the 3 series of “Tenko”, plus numerous books including a history of the Second World War in Britain. However my pain passion has been drama, and it is that on which I lecture now.

My most valuable advice is: You cannot have a success without risking a failure (i.e. boundaries have to be stretched!)

I can be contacted by telephone after 10.30am. Please contact the Development Office if you would like the number.

Model:  Photographic – London and Paris, 1950s.

Actress:
Films:  24 including “Kind Hearts and Coronets”.

Theatre: On tour, and two plays in the West End – “The Fifth Season” and “Six Characters in Search of an Author”.

Cabaret: Café de Paris with Jack Buchanan and South of France.

Radio: BBC and commercial radio – plays and “Just a Minute” and “The Potticoat Line”.

Television: Starred in over four hundred programmes – interviews, fashion, discussion, drama, sport, and children’s programmes – for ITV.  Appearances on French, US and Channel Islands’ television.  Producer on Portuguese television, 2 hours a day for two weeks, to coincide with the British Trade Fair.

PRO: Set up the publicity department for Mothercare.

Writer:

Television: Over 50 plays, including co-author of “Tenko”.

Theatre: “The Passing Out Parade” at the Greenwich Theatre.  Published by French and now performed by dramatic societies and drama schools.

Books: “Baron Von Kodak, Shirley Temple and Me”, “The Edge of a Smile”, “Tenko Reunion”, “Talking about the War..” a history of the II World War in Britain.

Journalism: Radio Times and other.

Lecturer: The Royal Television Society, and Luncheon groups.

BIOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE

1926: Born at 92  Eaton Terrace, London, SW1

1931 –
1943: Governess, day schools, public school – boarding – and finishing school (In England because of war).

1944: Ran away from Finishing school and joined the US Army as a civilian employee.

1945: Joined BBC radio as a personal assistant in the Variety Department.

1946: Married the Greek poet Nanos Valaoritis who wrote for the London literary magazines.  Became part of the Fitzrovia scene.

1948: Followed in my mother’s footsteps and became an actress.  Contract with the Rank Organisation (see professional CV)

1952: Ran away to sea as an assistant engineer on a converted MTB.  Chartered in the Mediterranean.

1953: Returned to England and acting, plus modelling the Summer Collection in Paris for various magazines.

1955: Contract with new commercial television company Associated Rediffusion.

1960: Left television.  Assistant to the Home Page editor of the Sunday Observer.

1964: Transferred to Woman’s magazine as interior decoration colour consultant.

1970s: Began writing.  Very lucky:  First book published, also television play.

1990s: Stopped writing and began living.  Also, returned to lecturing for luncheon clubs and Royal Television Society.