| 1906 |
Birth
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John Betjeman was born on August 28th at Parliament Hill Mansions in North London, the only child of Ernest and Mabel Betjemann. His ancestors originally came from Bremen in Germany; the second ‘n’ of the surname was dropped during the First World War to make it sound less German.
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| 1909 |
House move
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The family moved from Parliament Hill Mansions to West Hill in Highgate, half a mile away, which was a more affluent area.
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| 1911 |
First school
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Attends school at Byron House.
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| 1915 |
Junior school
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Attends Highgate Junior School.
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| 1917 |
Boarding school
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Became a boarder at Dragon School, Oxford.
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| 1920 |
College
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Went to Marlborough College. Betjeman would spend his school holidays from Dragon and Marlborough at Trebetherick in Cornwall, where the family owned property. (He recalls this period vividly in his poem ‘Trebetherick’). During this time, he also contributed to the ‘Marlburian’, the school magazine and briefly corresponded with Lord Alfred Douglas (Oscar Wilde’s beloved ‘Bosie’), but this ceased when his father forbade him to continue the correspondence.
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| 1925 |
Oxford University
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Went to Magdalen College, Oxford. Here he made many acquaintances including the poet WH Auden and the writer Evelyn Waugh.
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| 1926 |
First publication (university magazine)
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One of his poems was accepted for publication by the Isis, a university magazine.
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| 1927 |
University magazine editor
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Becomes the editor of the Cherwell, contributing material on architecture.
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| 1928 |
Divinity exam
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Betjeman leaves Oxford, having failed to pass his Divinity exam which was, at the time, compulsory. Becomes a teacher at Thorpe House School, Gerrards Cross.
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| 1930 |
Working at The Architectural Review
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Begins working for The Architectural Review. Betjeman was an admirer of Victorian architecture but whilst writing for the magazine he promoted the modernist architecture so admired by the Review’s editor.
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| 1931 |
First poetry collection publication
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Mount Zion, his first collection of poems, is published by Oxford friend, Edward James.
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| 1933 |
Marriage to Penelope Chetwode
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Marries Penelope Chetwode, whose father, Field Marshal Lord Chetwode, was a former Commander-in-Chief in India; he disapproved of Betjeman.
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| 1934 |
Editor of The Shell Guide
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He edits the Shell guide, Cornwall Illustrated. The Shell guides were written in response to the growing number of motorists who made trips to places of interest for the day or the weekend. Betjeman’s book on architecture, Ghastly Good Taste, is also published in this year.
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| 1936 |
The Shell Guide to Devon
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Edits the Shell guide, Devon.
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| 1937 |
Birth of son
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His son, Paul, is born. Betjeman’s second collection of poetry, Continual Dew, is published.
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| 1939 |
Rejection for active service
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Betjeman is rejected for active service in the Armed forces when the Second World War breaks out. He begins working for the Films Division of the Ministry of Information.
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| 1940 |
Publication of Old Lights for New Chancels
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Old Lights for New Chancels is published.
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| 1941 |
Press Attache role in Dublin
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Becomes the United Kingdom Press Attache in Dublin, Ireland, which was a neutral country. The IRA considered him as a target for assassination. It is rumoured that he may have been involved in intelligence gathering during the war.
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| 1942 |
Birth of daughter
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His daughter, Candida, is born whilst the family is living in Dublin.
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| 1943 |
Return to England
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The whole family returns to England. Betjeman works for the Ministry of Information.
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| 1945 |
Publication of New Bats in Old Belfries
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New Bats in Old Belfries is published. After the war, Betjeman continues to write for a number of different publications.
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| 1948 |
Wife Penelope becomes a Roman Catholic
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Betjeman’s wife, Penelope, becomes a Roman Catholic. The couple begins to drift apart.
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| 1954 |
Publication of A Few Late Chrysanthemums
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A Few Late Chrysanthemums is published.
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| 1958 |
Founding member of the Victorian Society
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Becomes a founder member of the Victorian Society. He is involved in the protection of old buildings of architectural interest which were in danger of demolition. Collected Poems is published to enormous success. Sales of the collection reached 100,000 in this year alone.
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| 1960 |
Awarded CBE
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Publication of Summoned by Bells. He is awarded the Queen’s Medal for Poetry and the CBE.
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| 1962 |
Publication of A Ring of Bells
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A Ring of Bells is published.
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| 1966 |
Publication of High and Low
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High and Low is published.
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| 1968 |
Royal Society of Literature companion
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Made Companion of Literature, Royal Society of Literature.
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| 1969 |
Knighthood
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| 1972 |
Poet Laureate
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| 1974 |
Publication of A Nip in the Air
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A Nip in the Air is published.
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| 1984 |
Death
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Dies at 77, having suffered Parkinson’s disease and several strokes. Buried at Trebetherick, Cornwall, in St. Enodoc’s Church.
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