Michael Morpurgo

Michael Andrew Bridge was born in 1943 in St Albans. His father was actor Tony Van Bridge, but Michael wouldn’t learn this until he was nineteen. His mother, Kippe Cammaerts, was also an actress, and the surname Morpurgo originates from her second husband, Jack Morpurgo, who was a literature professor. Michael went to school in London, and later attended the University of London, studying English and French. He then became a primary school teacher, but it was while teaching that he realized he wanted to be an author. He made up stories for the children, and says "I could see there was magic in it for them, and realized there was magic in it for me." He would go on to become a greatly successful and well-loved children’s author, best known for works such as War Horse, The Butterfly Lion and Private Peaceful. War Horse in particular has been wildly successful, having been adapted into an award-winning play and made into a Steven Spielberg blockbuster in 2011. Morpurgo held the role of Children’s Laureate from 2003-2005, and also set up a charity called “Farms for City Children” with his wife, Clare, which allows inner-city children to experience the countryside. He was made a Knight Bachelor in 2018 for his services to children’s literature and charity.