Acclaimed espionage author, John le Carré, best known for his novels Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, will become a Patron of Julia’s House, the Dorset and Wiltshire children’s hospice charity.
Julia’s House, provides vital care to the families of children with life-limiting conditions. The support it provides is completely flexible and tailored to families’ individual needs, with nurses and carers delivering respite care in the family home or enabling the children they support to enjoy everyday activities out in the community. Regular sessions are also held at the charity’s hospices in Corfe Mullen and Devizes.
Born in Poole and educated at Sherborne School in Dorset, John le Carré taught French and German at Eton after attending the University of Bern and Lincoln College, Oxford. He served briefly in British Intelligence during the Cold War, and it was during this time that he wrote his first novel, Call For The Dead, which introduced his most famous recurring character – the fictional intelligence officer, George Smiley.
Le Carré’s twenty-six books have been published in over 50 countries and 40 languages and continue to be loved by audiences around the world. His latest book Agent Running in the Field, published in October 2019, is a classic spy thriller and a chilling portrait of our time.
“Julia’s House has a rare and special claim on me that I find hard to describe – perhaps it is to do with having been so lucky in our own family, with one or two minor exceptions when compared to the brave, sad misfortunes that Julia’s House confronts daily,” explains le Carre. “I am very honoured to be asked to become a Patron of the charity.”
Martin Edwards, Chief Executive of Julia’s House commented, “We are absolutely delighted that John has accepted our invitation and we look forward to working with him again very soon.Our Patrons play a hugely valuable role in sharing the work of Julia’s House and the life-changing difference we make to local families every day.”
The vital care provided by Julia’s House is funded almost entirely by the local community through fundraising activities, donations and Gifts in Wills. The charity receives just 5% government funding in Dorset and none at all in Wiltshire.