Talented screen writer, 84, from Stratford dies
STRATFORD actress and writer Anita Bronson, who had success with London’s Burning and The Knock, has died aged 84
Her daughter, Siobhan Cocke, said Anita was born in Llandudno, North Wales, on 1st July 1940 to Gwynfryn-Owen and Margery Brownson.
She went to David Hughes School in Menai Bridge and that’s where her talent for English and drama were seen. Her teachers encouraged her to apply for a scholarship to RADA.
She left for London at the age of 17 and loved it, earning extra money in the night clubs of Soho dancing and she often talked of meeting the Kray twins.
She also met James Munnelly, as he was then, and they married after graduation in1960.
By that time they lived in Sheep Street, Stratford and worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
“The day I was born my father arrived at the nursing home in full body make-up as he was second spear carrier in a play,” said Siobhan. “My mother carried on performing small parts and I was looked after in the green room.”
James was offered work at the Old Vic in London and the family moved. They were not well off and lived in Clapham and Battersea before those areas became desirable.
In 1964 James’s youngest brother, Matthew was murdered by a group of youths when he and his brother went to the aid of the people they were attacking. Anita, who was then 23, had to identify him.
Matthew was posthumously awarded the George Cross for his bravery but the tragedy affected all their lives, said Siobhan.
“My father became successful, changed his name to James Kerry and acted in many different things,” she said. “We moved to Anglesey so we could be near family and my father commuted each week whilst in General Hospital.
“My parents divorced in 1975 and my father died in 1992. My mother turned her hand to writing.
“She started with radio plays, then two television plays and also two books, Lucy Emmett and Scarlet Madonna, and an episode of Minder.
“She used to work at night and sleep during the day.
“She was spotted and asked to write London’s Burning which she did from 1988 to 1992 – 21 episodes. She was proud of introducing a female firefighter. She enjoyed the research, spending time with firefighters and going out on shouts.”
Anita’s admiration for firefighters was immense; her brother Bryan was a chief at Holyhead Fire Station.
“My brother Richard – an artist – also worked doing storyboards for the show,” said Siobhan. “By this time she lived in Old Town House in Stratford. My children often went to visit and to explore Rosie and Jim’s shop in Stratford.”
In 1992 Anita was commissioned to write her own series, The Knock, about Customs and Excise and once again the research was fascinating to her.
In 1993 she suffered a massive stroke.
“We expected her to die,” said Siobhan. “However, I was there to watch the first episode of The Knock with her in hospital.
“Honestly, she was never able to write again and for her that was beyond hard. She was an immensely talented writer and no doubt would have written much more had she been able.”
Anita died in hospital in Warwick on 10th July.
