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Libby Purves is a writer and broadcaster par excellence and has that certain something which combines natural wit with an incisive perception.
Libby is married to the broadcaster Paul Heiney, and her interests are education, parenting, sailing, travelling and theatre.
She was the youngest and first ever woman presenter of the Today programme, and has presented Midweek since 1983, as well as having fronted The Learning Curve and numerous documentaries for BBC Radio 4.
She is a columnist for The Times and writes for many other publications including the Daily Mail.
She was awarded the O.B.E. for her services to journalism in 1999 and was Columnist of the Year in the same year.
She edited The Tatler for 6 months in 1982. She performed a successful stand-up comedy routine for Comic Relief in 2009.
As an author, she has written a series of books on childcare and family life, as well as numerous well-regarded novels. She has published a memoir on radio and a classic account of sailing around mainland Britain.
As the daughter of a travelling diplomat, she was educated in Israel, Bangkok, France, Johannesburg, Tunbridge Wells and at St Anne’s College Oxford, where she obtained a first class honours degree in English Language and Literature.
“Your input was just brilliant and was extremely well received by the audience – who because of their varied nature could have been quite challenging at that point – but you informed, stimulated and amused in equal proportions – people loved it.”
“I would like to thank you personally for the key note address at the Education Conference. We have received many positive comments and know your session was greatly appreciated by the delegates.”
“On behalf of all at FFI, please accept our sincere thanks for the marvellous interview that you gave with Sir David Attenborough. We have been receiving lots of compliments and have been inundated with praise, thanks and congratulations! Thank you very much indeed for your support and for making this such a special event – it is greatly appreciated.”