We were saddened to hear of the death of Maureen Duffy, a long-standing member of the Society of Authors and an SoA Fellow.

Maureen was a renowned novelist, poet, playwright and critic, as well as an activist who made a huge contribution to the cause of authors’ rights. In 1972 she co-founded the Writers Action Group, which led a long campaign on Public Lending Rights.

She went on to help found the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), which she chaired for many years, before becoming its Honorary President. Maureen was also a Fellow and Vice President of the Royal Society of Literature and President of Honour of the British Copyright Council.

Alongside her tireless work for authors’, Maureen campaigned on issues such as gay rights, and was one of the first public figures in the UK to come out as a lesbian, as well as serving as the first President of the Gay Humanist Group in 1980.