Author. She was best known as the creator of the “Wombles” children’s series. The daughter of novelist J.D. Beresford, she was privileged to be raised in the company of such literary giants as H.G. Wells, George Bernard Shaw and D.H. Lawrence, who were friends of the family. After service with the Wren (Women’s Royal Naval Service), she launched her career ghostwriting speeches, and followed it with a period as a journalist for the BBC. Beresford’s inspiration for writing books was enhanced as she traveled to South Africa, the West Indies and Australia with her husband sports commentator Max Robertson (who she later divorced). Among her early novels include “The Television Mystery” (1957), followed by “The Flying Doctor” (1958); she introduced the “Magic” series in 1964 with “Awkward Magic”, and debuted the “Wombles” series in 1968. She died from heart failure. (bio by: C.S.)