Bevis Hillier devoted more than twenty-five years to writing Betjeman`s life, a task entrusted to him by the poet himself. Like Betjeman he was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. Later he joined The Times, became editor of The Connoisseur and a columnist on the Los Angeles Times, as well as writing for many other papers and journals. He edited Betjeman`s 'Uncollected Poems' now included in COLLECTED POEMS, compiled JOHN BETJEMAN: A LIFE IN PICTURES and is the author of YOUNG BETJEMAN, NEW FAME, NEW LIFE and THE BONUS OF LAUGHTER. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Society of Literature. He lives in Hampshire.