Author and Speaker
Janie Hampton is the author of fifteen books including social history, biography, fiction and text books. She has written articles for all the major newspapers including the Independent, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, New Statesman and The Author. She has been a journalist in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Congo and Uganda, travelling by canoe, bus, river-boat and steam-train.
During the Year of the Artist in 2001, Janie was the first Arts Council sponsored writer-in-residence in a pub. Sitting in the Marsh Harrier in Oxford she encouraged over 80 writers with their plays, novels, poetry and books. She has run Writing from Life courses with Rory Maclean; and Alexander Masters for The Arvon Foundation.
The London Olympics – 1908 and 1948
Janie is the leading authority on the social history of the Olympic Games in London. Her bestselling books are London Olympics: 1908 and 1948; and The Austerity Olympics – how the Games Came to London in 1948.
Janie and Sam Hoare, star of Bert & Dickie.
BBC TV's drama film on Bert & Dickie was based on 'The Austerity Olympics'. Scripted by William Ivory it starred John Bird, Geoffrey Palmer & Matt Smith (Dr Who). Janie appears in the crowd cheering the British oarsmen in Henley-on Thames.
During 2012 Janie was interviewed on over 35 radio stations and 12 international television channels talking about the Olympics, including BBC TV 'Breakfast' and 'Newsnight'. Listen to her on BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme. Richard Ingrams, editor of The Oldie magazine appointed her as 'Olympics Correspondent' and she was featured in the Daily Telegraph's A Page in the Life. In Olympic week, The Austerity Olympics was the No. 1 bestseller of Amazon Olympic books and No. 15 of all Amazon books!
Janie gives fascinating talks, illustrated with songs. She has spoken at most literary festivals in England, including Ways with Words; Women's Institutes; Girl Guides; The Oldie literary luncheon; Ashmolean Museum; Royal National Theatre; and National Portrait Gallery.
Television and Radio
Janie was programme consultant for the BBC2 documentary about the life of Joyce Grenfell, 'Comedy with Breeding'; and advised on many television programmes about the Olympics. Radio work has included interviews on Radio 4's 'Today'; producing, writing and presenting features for the BBC World Service, Radio 3 and Radio 4.
News
Janie is the Founder of the Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust, which is renovating Africa's oldest ship back into a clinic on Lake Malawi.
After Janie was nominated for Tesco Mum of the Year, she was shortlisted for her 'work for the people of Malawi'. Over half of the £2 million needed has been raised. Can you help raise the other half?
Janie is currently writing a social history of the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. If you were there, please tell her about it.