The Writers' Guild of Great Britain
I became a member of the writers union – then the Screenwriters’ Guild – as soon as I started writing full-time for radio, and it has remained an important part of my life for most of my career.
Through the Guild I have made friends with many writers who have given freely of their time and energy to fight for our rights in an industry where the “fat cats” easily forget who are the true creators.
I joined the Guild as an “associate member” as it only represented screenwriters at that time. I campaigned with other associates to have radio writers recognised too. We received the support of Ted Willis and other senior members and I soon found myself on the first Radio Committee of the re-named Writers Guild of Great Britain. In later years it went on to incorporate Theatre and Book writers.
During the 80s and 90s I served on the Executive Council for several terms and was Deputy Chair to Alan Plater. Along the way I chaired the Radio and Anti-Censorship committees and sat on the Film and Television committee.
I also founded, with Sheila MacLeod, a Women's Committee which received considerable opposition at the outset. We hoped to encourage more women writers to become active in the Guild at a time when most of the committees were male-dominated and many of the areas of special concern to women were neglected. Chaired by Harriet Gilbert, the original committee was one of the best I have ever served on.
Those were heady days. Margaret Thatcher was in power. The Guild, as a body, could not take a political stance on matters other than those directly affecting writers but there were plenty of these. Unions were under threat, censorship was rife, the threat of Clause 28 was a burning issue.
The Women's Committee agreed as individuals to raise money for the miners’ families who were suffering such deprivation during the strike.
The Women's Committee folded after a decade. It was deemed no longer necessary. Women were represented throughout the Guild and worked across the industry.
I was made an Honorary Member of the Guild in 2007 and wear my badge with pride.
Through the Guild I have made friends with many writers who have given freely of their time and energy to fight for our rights in an industry where the “fat cats” easily forget who are the true creators.
I joined the Guild as an “associate member” as it only represented screenwriters at that time. I campaigned with other associates to have radio writers recognised too. We received the support of Ted Willis and other senior members and I soon found myself on the first Radio Committee of the re-named Writers Guild of Great Britain. In later years it went on to incorporate Theatre and Book writers.
During the 80s and 90s I served on the Executive Council for several terms and was Deputy Chair to Alan Plater. Along the way I chaired the Radio and Anti-Censorship committees and sat on the Film and Television committee.
I also founded, with Sheila MacLeod, a Women's Committee which received considerable opposition at the outset. We hoped to encourage more women writers to become active in the Guild at a time when most of the committees were male-dominated and many of the areas of special concern to women were neglected. Chaired by Harriet Gilbert, the original committee was one of the best I have ever served on.
Those were heady days. Margaret Thatcher was in power. The Guild, as a body, could not take a political stance on matters other than those directly affecting writers but there were plenty of these. Unions were under threat, censorship was rife, the threat of Clause 28 was a burning issue.
The Women's Committee agreed as individuals to raise money for the miners’ families who were suffering such deprivation during the strike.
The Women's Committee folded after a decade. It was deemed no longer necessary. Women were represented throughout the Guild and worked across the industry.
I was made an Honorary Member of the Guild in 2007 and wear my badge with pride.
