Claudia Cockburn Flanders, OBE (11 February 1933 – 25 June 1998) was an American-British disability activist who spent much of her working life in the United Kingdom.
Claudia Cockburn | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 February 1933 New York City, US |
| Died | 25 June 1998 (aged 65) London, England |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Spouse | Michael Flanders |
| Children | Laura Flanders Stephanie Flanders |
| Parent(s) | Claud Cockburn Hope Hale Davis |
| Relatives |
|
Her parents were Claud Cockburn, a journalist, and Hope Hale Davis. She married singer-songwriter Michael Flanders in 1959.[1][2] Her stepmother, by her father's remarriage, was Jean Ross, the reported inspiration for Christopher Isherwood's iconic character Sally Bowles.[3] Through her father, she was the half-sister of mystery writer Sarah Caudwell, Ross's daughter, Irish journalists Alexander, Andrew and Patrick Cockburn, and paternal aunt of actress Olivia Wilde (née Cockburn), including Wilde's siblings. Through her mother, she was the half-sister of the American writer Lydia Davis.
In 1987, Flanders formed Tripscope, an organisation to help disabled people with transportation difficulties.[4][5] She created the post of adviser on disability to the National Bus Company (UK) in the 1970s and served for many years on the national Joint Committee on Mobility for Disabled People and the Department of Transport Advisory Committee on Disability in the UK. She was awarded an OBE in 1981 for her services to disabled people.[6][7][8]
Death
editShe died in London on 25 June 1998, aged 65. Her daughters are the journalists Laura and Stephanie Flanders.[9]
In 1999, a special award for improved accessibility for UK buses operators was started in her memory under the UK Bus Awards. [10][11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Krebs, Albin (16 April 1975). "Michael Flanders Is Dead at 53; Humorist-Star of 'Drop of a Hat'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ Cadwalladr, Carole (25 July 2009). "The interview: Stephanie Flanders". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ Garebian, Keith (2011). The Making of Cabaret. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-0199732500.
- ^ Grice, Elizabeth (17 December 2002). "'I'll give as good as I get'". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ Obituary, Independent.co.uk; accessed 25 March 2017.
- ^ ""Transport without Handicap": DOT Report (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. 26 May 1982. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Official Public Record". The London Gazette.
- ^ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 11 Feb 1994". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ Turner, Janice (8 February 2014). "Stephanie Flanders: she's got the power". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "UK Bus Awards | Home of the UK Bus Awards". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04.
- ^ "Accessibility - The Claudia Flanders Memorial Award". www.ukbusawards.org.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2019.