Rodney Bennett (1890-1948) was a playwright, children's author, and lyricist, who also wrote under the name Royden Barrie. He was the father of the poet

M. R. Peacocke Margaret Ruth Peacocke (born 1930), also known as Meg Peacocke, is an English poet. Life Peacocke was born Margaret Ruth Bennett in Reading, Berkshire to Joan Esther, ''née'' Spink (1901–1983) and (Harry) Rodney Bennett (1890–1948), a ch ...

and the composer Richard Rodney Bennett. Bennett was educated at Reading University College, where he edited the college magazine ''Tamesis''. He then became a teacher in London, while studying singing. He left teaching to take up singing, speech training, and musical journalism. He wrote several books, including ''Lets Do a Play'', about acting, and ''The London Dramatic Books'', a series of plays for children. As Royden Barrie he wrote lyrics for songs by Eric Coates, Hayden Wood, Roger Quilter, Martin Shaw, and others. He died at home in Budleigh Salterton on 14 April 1948.

References

1890 births 1948 deaths British male songwriters British lyricists 20th-century British composers 20th-century British male musicians Alumni of the University of Reading British dramatists and playwrights {{UK-playwright-stub