Aileen Armitage

Aileen Longden (pen names Ruth Fabian, Erica Lindley, Aileen Quigley and better known by her maiden name Aileen Armitage) is a British writer and public speaker. She is the author of more than thirty-five historical novels.

Life and career Armitage was born in Luton, Bedfordshire in 1930, daughter of Eric Armitage and Evelyn Armitage (née Colgan) who were married in 1929. She grew up in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, where her father's family had already lived for about 400 years. The family house was in Lindley Moor near Huddersfield. Her grandfather owned a mill in this area. Armitage studied Modern Languages at Hull University gaining a BA. She became a teacher, but ten years later, due to failing eyesight she had to give up teaching.

Armitage's first novel was accepted by a publisher, In the UK, Armitage is a high Public Lending Right earner.

In 1984, she met writer Deric Longden (who at that time was married to his first wife Diana), at a writers' conference. At the conference they discussed writing a television script together about disability, with Longden's wife Diana, at the heart of the story. Diana Longden had an illness which baffled doctors, left her wheelchair-reliant and in almost constant pain. The illness was later believed to be chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Armitage and Diana became devoted friends, notwithstanding the evident attraction Deric Longden and Armitage felt for one another; indeed, Diana hoped that they would marry after her death. Diana Longden died in 1985.

Armitage and Longden moved to Huddersfield. Armitage married Longden in 1990. and died of cancer of the oesophagus on 23 June 2013.

Books and television films Wide Eyed and Legless a.k.a. The Wedding Gift Armitage's life from when she first met Deric Longden is included in Longden's 1989 novel Diana's Story, later made into a television film Wide-Eyed and Legless (1993) (known in the US as The Wedding Gift). Armitage is played by actress Sian Thomas whilst Longden is played by Jim Broadbent. Diana Longden is played by Julie Walters. Thora Hird plays Longden's mother Annie Mary Longden (23 August 1910 – 1988).

Lost For Words Longden's book Lost For Words (1991), which continues the story of his life with Armitage and his eccentric mother, was also made into a television film, Lost for Words (1999), in which Penny Downie plays Armitage and Pete Postlethwaite plays Longden. Thora Hird reprises her role as Annie Longden. Armitage has a cameo as a voice on an answerphone, as does Longden. The film won the Emmy for best foreign drama and a BAFTA for Hird as best actress. The film was repeated on ITV in 2012, following the death of Postlethwaite.

Awards In 1988, Armitage received the Frink Woman of the Year Award. In November 2002 Armitage and her husband were awarded honorary Doctor of Literature degree by University of Huddersfield. International Emmy 1999, Nominated for a BAFTA, Winner of the Peabody Prize and Le Priz Crystale all for the TV film Lost For Words, co-written with husband Deric Longden.

Works

Child of Fire, 1971 King's Pawn, 1971 Shadow of Dungeon Wood, 1972 Bloodstone, 1972 A Theft of Honour, 1972 Rose Brocade, 1972 A Scent of Violets, 1973 A Devil in Holy Orders, 1973 King Bastard. The Story of William the Conqueror, 1973 Court Cadenza, 1974 Empress to the Eagle, 1975 The Radley Curse, 1975 The Brackenroyd Inheritance, 1976 The Devil in Crystal, 1979 Harvest of Destiny, 1979 Jacob's Well, 1981 Hawksmoor, 1981 (Hawksmoor series) Pipistrelle, 1982 A Dark Moon Raging, 1982 (Hawksmoor series) Hunter's Moon, 1984 (Hawksmoor series) A Midnight Smile, 1993 The Jericho Years, 1994 Cedar Street, 1995 (Hawksmoor series) Cambermere, 1995 Annabella, 1996 The Dark Arches, 1996 (Hawksmoor series) Jason's Dominion, 1997 Mallory Keep, 1998 The Seamstress, 1999 A Winter Serpent, 1999 A Passionate Cause, 2000 A Double Sacrifice, 2001 To Catch and Conquer, 2001 Willerby Manor, 2002 Flames of Fortune, 2002 Conflict of Interest, 2005 The Tudor Sisters, 2005