Betjeman, John 1906-1984. English poet and
essayist, originator of a peculiarly English
light verse, nostalgic, and delighting in
Victorian and Edwardian architecture. His
Collected Poems appeared in 1968 and a verse
autobiography Summoned by Bells in 1960. He
was knighted in 1969 and became poet laureate
in 1972.