Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Claire Rayner

Claire Berenice Rayner (née Chetwynd; 22 January 1931 – 11 October 2010) was an English nurse, journalist, broadcaster, novelist, and campaigner, renowned for her role as an agony aunt offering candid advice on personal, , and relationship issues through newspapers, radio, and . Trained as a nurse at the Royal Northern Hospital in , where she qualified in 1954 before specializing in at , Rayner drew on her medical experience to address taboo topics such as contraception, , , and sexually transmitted diseases in her columns for publications including and Woman's Own. She authored over 100 books, including medical-themed novels and non-fiction guides, and served as president of the Patients Association, advocating for improved NHS standards and patient dignity until her final days. Appointed Officer of the in 1996 for services to and women's issues, Rayner's direct, empathetic style made her a trusted figure for generations, though her frankness occasionally sparked criticism for challenging social norms.

Early Life

Childhood and Family Background

Claire Rayner was born Claire Berenice Berk on 22 January 1931 in , , to Jewish parents of modest means. Her father worked as a , while her mother managed the household, in a family environment shaped by the immigrant-heavy Jewish community of the area amid interwar economic pressures. As the eldest of four children—three girls and one boy—she experienced early hardships typical of working-class pre-war , including exposure to urban poverty without parental safeguards against street risks. Rayner's childhood was dominated by parental neglect and abuse, which she detailed in her 2003 autobiography How Did I Get Here From There?. Her mother inflicted physical beatings and emotional cruelty, marked by constant criticism, favoritism toward younger siblings, and indifference to milestones like birthdays, fostering a home devoid of affection. Her father, described as unreliable and uninvolved, offered no protection or emotional support, exacerbating the instability. These dynamics, rooted in her mother's own unresolved anger—stemming from her orphan background—left lasting psychological effects, though Rayner later attributed her resilience to surviving such unmitigated family dysfunction. During , like many children, she was evacuated, but returned to the same abusive household, underscoring the absence of any reprieve.

Education and Nursing Training

Rayner attended the City of London School for Girls for her secondary education, with the school evacuated to Keighley, West Yorkshire, during World War II due to the Blitz. Following the war, she entered nursing training at the Royal Northern Hospital in Holloway, North London, beginning formal studies in the early 1950s as part of the newly established National Health Service (NHS), launched in 1948. Her training encompassed rigorous clinical rotations across medical and surgical wards, emphasizing practical skills in patient assessment, basic , , and hygiene protocols essential to early NHS standards. In 1954, she qualified as a State Registered Nurse (SRN), receiving the hospital's for exceptional performance in examinations and practical evaluations. This achievement highlighted her proficiency in core competencies, including direct bedside care and initial , forged through intensive apprenticeships that prioritized empirical observation over theoretical abstraction. The post-war context of her training exposed Rayner to the NHS's foundational operational realities, where nurses managed high volumes with emerging standardized procedures amid infrastructural strains from wartime damage and rapid service expansion. These experiences instilled a grounding in evidence-based interaction, focusing on observable symptoms, monitoring, and compassionate response to acute conditions, which later informed her views on healthcare delivery without yet extending to public advocacy.

Career

Nursing Profession

Claire Rayner trained as a nurse at the Royal Northern Hospital in , beginning her studies in 1951 and qualifying as a state-registered nurse in 1954, during which she earned the hospital's for outstanding achievement. She subsequently completed training at , equipping her for specialized care in maternity wards. In her nursing roles at hospitals, including the Royal Northern, Rayner managed diverse cases across general wards, maternity, and paediatrics, emphasizing hands-on interaction in the post-war environment. Her practical experience involved direct healthcare delivery, such as assisting in deliveries and general medical care, amid the administrative demands of under-resourced facilities typical of 1950s British hospitals. Rayner ceased full-time nursing in the early following the birth of her first in 1960, prioritizing family responsibilities over continued clinical work. Despite this transition, she retained a formal connection to the profession through later honorary nursing affiliations, reflecting her foundational expertise in patient-centered care.

Journalism and Agony Aunt Role

Rayner entered advice in the late as the agony aunt for Petticoat magazine's "The Problem Page," targeting teenage girls with candid responses on personal issues. Drawing from her expertise, she provided pragmatic guidance on sexuality and relationships, which generated controversy for its directness amid prevailing social taboos. Her approach emphasized non-judgmental support, often addressing contraception and related concerns in ways that challenged conservative norms of the era. In 1966, she assumed the health advice column in Woman's Own under the pseudonym Ruth Martin, retaining the role until 1975 before transitioning to her own byline through 1988; the publication reached over 6.5 million readers weekly. Rayner launched "Dear Claire" in The Sun in 1973, managing reader queries until 1979, then continued similar columns in the Sunday Mirror from 1980 to 1983. These outlets amplified her influence, with her responses pioneering male-inclusive advice and empirical handling of topics like homosexuality, divorce, and family dynamics. At her peak, Rayner processed around 1,000 letters weekly, employing a staff that included a and to assist in replies. Her columns shaped public discourse on intimate matters during the , prioritizing clinical realism over moralizing and fostering broader acceptance of open discussions on reproductive health and personal autonomy.

Writing and Broadcasting

Rayner authored nearly 100 books from the through the , specializing in historical novels and multi-generational family sagas that traced characters' lives across London's evolving social landscapes. Her series, comprising 12 volumes and commencing with Gower Street in 1973, exemplified this approach by interweaving medical and theatrical professions amid historical events like the . These publications achieved substantial commercial reach, circulating among millions of readers despite limited critical attention in literary circles. Transitioning from nursing, Rayner established a prominent broadcasting presence, hosting the BBC television series Claire Rayner's Casebook from 1980 to 1984, where she addressed viewer-submitted dilemmas informed by medical expertise. She further contributed as the resident advice expert on between 1986 and 1992, alongside guest spots on shows including in the . Rayner's media work extended to , utilizing her clinical background to deliver straightforward guidance on preventive measures; in 1987, she prominently advocated protocols amid rising awareness, demonstrating condoms in breakfast-time broadcasts to normalize protective behaviors. This self-directed pivot from bedside care to public platforms underscored her ability to translate professional knowledge into accessible, evidence-based discourse on bodily and relational matters.

Advocacy and Public Campaigning

Rayner served as president of the Patients Association, an organization advocating for improved healthcare standards, for several years, including acting as its public face in campaigns highlighting deficiencies in care. She had been a leading figure in the association for over 30 years, using her nursing background to lobby for rights and better protocols, such as calling for the removal of underperforming nurses from registers following documented cases of . In recognition of her contributions to health services, she received an in 1996. A vocal defender of the (NHS), Rayner campaigned against perceived threats to its integrity from government policies, drawing on her frontline experience as a nurse to argue that elements risked undermining universal access and quality. In one notable instance, amid concerns over reforms proposed by the incoming Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, she issued a public warning from her deathbed in October 2010, instructing relatives to convey to : "if he screws up my beloved NHS I'll come back and bloody haunt him." This statement, reported widely, underscored her longstanding opposition to market-driven changes, which she viewed as eroding the NHS's foundational commitment to equitable care without direct evidence of improved outcomes from such shifts. From 1999 to 2004, Rayner presided over the British Humanist Association (now ), where she advanced secular humanist principles in public discourse, including support for to reduce unintended pregnancies and in reproductive choices. In this capacity, she contributed to efforts influencing policy debates on access and end-of-life decisions, emphasizing evidence-based approaches over religious objections, such as advocating for women's in terminations based on risks observed in her career. Her involvement aligned with the association's push for rational, non-theistic frameworks in ethical policymaking, though specific legislative impacts remain tied to broader humanist rather than isolated actions.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Claire Rayner married Desmond "Des" Rayner, an actor and artist, in 1957 after meeting him at in . The couple resided in , where Rayner managed family responsibilities alongside her professional pursuits following the birth of their first child, which concluded her nursing career. They had three children: daughter and sons , born in 1962, and , born in 1966. Rayner, born to Jewish parents and an atheist from an early age, raised her family in a secular environment while maintaining elements of Jewish cultural heritage, such as traditional foods. This long-term marriage provided personal stability amid her public career, in contrast to the parental she endured in childhood.

Health Challenges and Death

In May 2001, at the age of 69, Claire Rayner discovered a lump in her breast while on holiday, leading to a of . She underwent a double followed by and radiotherapy, treatments that successfully eliminated the cancer. Rayner chose to publicize her and process, describing the emotional and physical realities of treatment to destigmatize and encourage women to seek early screening through the . Her candor highlighted the importance of prompt medical intervention, and she subsequently became an activist for , using her platform to promote awareness and research funding. On May 25, 2010, Rayner underwent emergency intestinal surgery, the precise cause of which was not publicly detailed but from which she failed to recover. Persistent complications, including progressive decline in health, resulted in her death on October 11, 2010, at age 79 in a hospital near her home. A lifelong atheist and former president of the British Humanist Association, Rayner dismissed expectations that severe illness would prompt her to turn to or spiritual solace, affirming instead her commitment to rational, evidence-based approaches to suffering and . She emphasized empirical management of pain and symptoms through medical means, viewing death as a natural cessation without supernatural elements.

Publications

Fiction Works

Claire Rayner's fiction output encompassed over 60 novels, including multi-volume family sagas and standalone works that often intertwined romance, historical events, and social challenges faced by ordinary individuals. Her earliest novels appeared in the , such as The House on the Fen (1967) and Starch of Aprons (1967), which explored personal relationships amid everyday struggles, marking her entry into commercial before the decade's emphasis on sexual frankness influenced broader themes of liberation and resilience in her later works. The Performers series, her most extensive, consists of 12 volumes published between 1973 and 1984, tracing the interconnected Lackland and Lucas families from the through London's theater districts and medical circles, depicting their ascent from to middle-class stability against backdrops of upheaval. Beginning with Gower Street (1973), the saga follows generational conflicts, professional ambitions in and healthcare, and romantic entanglements, reflecting Rayner's interest in endurance through adversity drawn from historical family dynamics. Other notable series include the Poppy Chronicles, a six-book historical sequence starting with (1987), which centers on Poppy Harris, daughter of a mismatched union between a Jewish East End boxer and a middle-class woman, spanning from the early through eras like (1988) and (1988) to explore themes of cultural integration and wartime survival. The Quentin Quartet, published in the early 1990s, focuses on Victorian , with London Lodgings introducing widow Tilly Quentin's efforts to establish a guesthouse, followed by , where she navigates demanding clientele and family tensions in a burgeoning enterprise. Additionally, the George Barnabas mystery series, comprising five novels from (1993) to Fifth Member (1997), features Dr. George Barnabas solving medical-related crimes, blending procedural elements with character-driven narratives. Standalone novels, such as Death on the Table (1969), The Meddlers (1970), and A Time to Heal (1972), frequently incorporated medical settings informed by Rayner's experience, alongside romantic and historical threads addressing interpersonal conflicts and societal shifts. These works, peaking in output during the , emphasized protagonists' perseverance amid personal and historical trials, often mirroring the era's evolving attitudes toward relationships and without delving into overt . Rayner's garnered popularity for its accessible storytelling in and historical genres, appealing to readers seeking relatable portrayals of resilience, though it remained oriented toward mass-market rather than literary acclaim.

Non-Fiction Works

Claire Rayner produced numerous non-fiction works drawing from her background, focusing on practical advice for , life, and personal relationships. Early titles included What Happens in (1963), which explained medical procedures to patients and families, and Essentials of Outpatient (1967), offering guidance for and clinic management. These books emphasized straightforward, experience-based explanations to demystify healthcare, reflecting Rayner's aim to empower readers amid mid-20th-century medical opacity. Her writings extended to parenting and child-rearing, such as For Children (1967) and One Hundred and One Facts an Expectant Mother Should Know (1967), which provided factual insights into pregnancy, birth, and early development without romanticizing traditional roles. Rayner advocated evidence-informed approaches, urging parents to prioritize child welfare over societal expectations, including frank discussions on discipline and emotional needs that challenged prevailing permissive or authoritarian norms of the era. Later works like The Body Book (1979) targeted adolescents with anatomical and hygiene education, promoting body positivity and self-awareness in ways that countered prudish conventions. On relationships and sex, Rayner authored guides such as About Sex and The Shy Person's Book, delivering candid, non-judgmental counsel on intimacy, , and marital dynamics. These texts stressed mutual respect and communication, often diverging from 1970s-1990s conservative views by endorsing premarital education and addressing taboos like or mismatched libidos through pragmatic, cause-effect reasoning rather than moralizing. Her output, including Claire Rayner's Lifeguide, integrated with relational advice, covering topics from contraception to in families. While commercially successful—evidenced by multiple editions and reprints—these books drew from Rayner's clinical observations but occasionally reflected a toward flexible family structures, such as accepting or when empirically beneficial for well-being, which contrasted with more rigid institutional stances. In , Rayner publicly disclosed experiences of childhood parental , framing them as causal factors influencing her resilient advisory and emphasis on breaking cycles of emotional harm in families. This revelation, shared through interviews rather than a dedicated volume, underscored her non-fiction's therapeutic intent, prioritizing survivor agency and preventive education over victimhood narratives. Her works were adopted in schools and clinics for their accessibility, though critics noted an underlying progressive tilt that sometimes understated biological imperatives in favor of individualized choice.

Views, Controversies, and Criticisms

Positions on Social Issues

Claire Rayner, identifying as a secular and atheist, rejected religious morality as a basis for ethics, instead promoting a rational, evidence-based approach centered on human compassion, autonomy, and . Her humanism informed her advocacy for frank discussions of sexuality free from doctrinal constraints, emphasizing individual fulfillment over prescriptive norms derived from faith traditions. From the 1960s onward, Rayner pioneered accessible through works like her 1969 book A Parent's Guide to Sex Education, urging parents to address sexual development openly to prevent ignorance-driven harms. She supported widespread contraception access to enable responsible , abortion availability as a necessary option for unwanted pregnancies, decriminalization and social acceptance of following the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, and liberalization to end untenable marriages, framing these as antidotes to repressive Victorian-era attitudes that stifled personal happiness. In her agony aunt columns, she routinely advised on , , , , and same-sex relationships, prioritizing emotional honesty and over traditional marital permanence. These positions aligned with broader sexual liberalization, yet empirical data reveal correlated societal shifts. divorce rates, low in the early (lifetime risk around 28% for 1963 marriages), doubled between 1960 and 1970 following the 1969 Divorce Reform Act's introduction of no-fault grounds, peaking at over 150,000 annual divorces by 2003 and a lifetime risk of 44% for 1986 marriages. rates, which had declined post-World War II, re-emerged in the amid rising premarital and non-marital sexual activity, with more prevalent among heterosexuals and diagnoses spiking before later fluctuations. Rayner's emphasis on destigmatizing these behaviors contributed to reduced for individuals seeking advice, fostering greater openness in addressing personal crises. However, her framework underemphasized evidence from family stability research indicating that traditional structures, including lifelong commitments, correlate with lower , better educational outcomes, and reduced relational instability, potentially overlooking causal links between rapid liberalization and elevated family breakdown rates.

Political Advocacy and NHS Stance

Claire Rayner served as president of the Patients Association from 1997, using the role to amplify patient complaints about inadequate care, hospital infections, and bureaucratic obstacles within the (NHS). Her advocacy emphasized maintaining the NHS as a publicly funded, state-monopoly system free from private sector encroachment, which she argued preserved equitable access for all Britons regardless of income. Rayner vocally opposed NHS reforms proposed across decades, viewing them as veiled steps toward that would prioritize profit over patient needs. In the 1980s and 1990s, she critiqued Conservative government initiatives introducing internal markets and fundholding practices under and , contending they fragmented the service and risked excluding vulnerable groups. Her stance peaked in 2010 amid David Cameron's coalition plans for greater commissioning and provider competition, encapsulated in an accusing Cameron of misleading the public on privatization risks and warning of eroded patient access. On her deathbed that October, Rayner instructed relatives to relay a message to Cameron: "If he screws up my beloved NHS, I'll come back and bloody haunt him," underscoring her fear that market-oriented changes would dismantle the system's universal foundations. Through the Patients Association, Rayner achieved tangible gains by publicizing scandals—such as substandard hygiene and delayed treatments—prompting policy responses like enhanced infection control protocols and the 2009 Health Act mandating minimum care standards. These efforts elevated from individual grievances to national discourse, influencing inquiries into NHS accountability. Critics of Rayner's position argue it romanticized the NHS's state-run model, downplaying structural flaws evident in empirical data, including chronic waiting lists exceeding 7.6 million for elective procedures by mid-2023 and average delays of over 14 weeks for routine treatments—figures far surpassing those in hybrid systems like Germany's, where private competition yields median waits under 4 weeks for similar care. Reforms she resisted, such as those expanding provider choice and incentives, drew from evidence in comparable European models showing reduced bureaucracy and faster throughput via market signals, though implementation challenges like regulatory capture often tempered gains. Rayner's absolutist defense, while rooted in a commitment to universality, arguably overlooked how monopoly provision fosters inefficiencies, as wait times correlate inversely with competitive elements across OECD health systems.

Criticisms and Debates

Rayner's advice columns in Petticoat magazine during the early 1970s provoked backlash for perceived permissiveness toward . In 1972, she faced accusations of encouraging and among prepubescent girls, prompting concerns from parents and media figures about the suitability of such guidance for young readers. This criticism highlighted tensions between liberalizing attitudes on and traditional views on , with detractors arguing her responses normalized behaviors deemed premature or risky. Her endorsement of a sanitary towel advertisement featuring winged products also stirred debate, as some contemporaries dismissed it as sensationalist or trivializing menstrual health amid broader cultural shifts in advertising norms. Rayner embraced the ensuing controversy, viewing it as emblematic of resistance to frank discussions on bodily functions, yet critics contended it prioritized commercial appeal over substantive advocacy. Critics further noted that Rayner's accessible, empathetic style, while popular, sometimes overshadowed rigorous analysis, positioning her more as a populist than a scholarly on issues; this led to underestimation of her intellectual contributions despite her background and extensive writings. Her advocacy for sexual openness was occasionally faulted for insufficient acknowledgment of potential societal repercussions, such as the documented rise in single-parent households from 8% of families with dependent children in 1971 to 22% by 1991, amid debates over causal links to relaxed norms—though direct attributions to her influence remain contested.

Legacy and Impact

Cultural and Professional Influence

Rayner's role as an agony aunt in magazines such as Woman's Own and the from the onward helped shape the genre by prioritizing direct, evidence-based advice on relationships, sexuality, and health, thereby normalizing open public discourse on previously taboo subjects. Her columns, which addressed thousands of reader queries annually, encouraged readers to seek practical solutions grounded in nursing-informed realism rather than prescriptive norms, influencing subsequent advice columnists to adopt a similarly candid tone. In healthcare discourse, Rayner bridged professional and by drawing on her and pediatric training to produce over 90 books and articles that demystified medical processes for lay audiences, fostering greater agency and scrutiny of the NHS. As chair and later president of the Patients Association starting in 1997, she elevated the organization's profile through campaigns that highlighted systemic neglect, prompting policy reviews and increased public reporting of hospital shortcomings. This advocacy correlated with heightened complaints to the body, rising from routine inquiries to structured exposés of care failures during her tenure. Rayner's promotion of as president of the British Humanist Association from 1999 to 2004 advanced secular ethical frameworks in public life by integrating non-religious perspectives into debates on family, , and personal , reaching audiences through her established broadcast platform. Her emphasis on rational, empathy-driven without appeals contributed to broader acceptance of humanist ceremonies and policies, as evidenced by the association's expanded media presence under her leadership.

Awards and Posthumous Recognition

In 1981, Rayner was granted the of in recognition of her contributions to public life. She received the Officer of the () in the 1996 for services to and women's issues. From 1999 to 2004, she served as president of the British Humanist Association (now ), later becoming vice-president, reflecting her advocacy for . Additional honors included an Honorary Fellowship from in 1988 and membership in the Royal Society of Medicine from 1983. In 2008, the Medical Journalists' Association presented her with a lifetime achievement award for her work in medical journalism. Rayner received no major literary prizes during her lifetime, consistent with the niche status of her popular fiction and advice literature genres, which prioritized accessibility over critical acclaim in highbrow literary circles. Following her death on 11 October 2010, obituaries highlighted her lifelong commitment to the (NHS) and , with tributes emphasizing her role as a vocal defender of healthcare accessibility. described her as "the best known and best loved agony aunt," crediting her empathetic guidance to generations. Her son, journalist , publicly acknowledged her influence in personal reflections, though her direct professional legacy in and writing has not translated into formal posthumous institutions or endowments. References to her NHS critiques occasionally appear in debates on healthcare reform, underscoring her warnings against underfunding, but without dedicated awards or memorials.

References

  1. [1]
    Claire Rayner: Novelist, journalist and broadcaster who became the
    Oct 13, 2010 · Claire Berenice Chetwynd, writer and broadcaster: born London 22 January 1931; OBE 1996; married 1957 Desmond Rayner (two sons, one daughter); ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  2. [2]
    Claire Rayner obituary - The Guardian
    Oct 12, 2010 · Claire Rayner, who has died aged 79, was probably the best known and best loved agony aunt. She became an icon to a generation of young women and men.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography<|separator|>
  3. [3]
    Obituary: Claire Rayner - BBC News
    Oct 12, 2010 · In 1981 she was given the Freedom of the City of London and in 1996 was awarded an OBE for services in health and women's issues. Street urchin.
  4. [4]
    Papers of Claire Rayner, 1960-2000
    Claire Berenice Rayner (nee Berk) was born on 22 Jan 1931 to Jewish parents in London. She was educated at the City of London School for Girls.
  5. [5]
    The Claire Rayner I knew, by Helena Kennedy - The Guardian
    Dec 11, 2010 · She was one of the first journalists to tackle subjects such as contraception and abortion, homosexuality and divorce, HIV/ Aids and safe sex.
  6. [6]
    Claire Rayner (1931-2010) | Humanist Heritage
    The writer, TV and radio personality and social campaigner, Claire Rayner, best known for her agony aunt columns, spent most of her life helping others in one ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  7. [7]
    Tales my mother never told me | Biography books - The Guardian
    Mar 2, 2003 · There's one problem Claire Rayner always refused to discuss: her own childhood. Now that she's revealed an early life of parental abuse, ...
  8. [8]
    Claire Rayner portrait - The Telegraph
    Jun 24, 2008 · In her autobiography, How Did I Get Here From There?, she explored openly her unhappy childhood and mistreatment at the hands of her parents.
  9. [9]
    Claire Rayner's last words: 'Don't screw up my NHS' | The Independent
    Oct 13, 2010 · Born into an impoverished Jewish family in London's East End in 1931, she revealed in her 2003 autobiography that she had been beaten and ...
  10. [10]
    Passed/Failed: Claire Rayner | The Independent
    Jul 28, 2005 · I remember being told I had won a scholarship and I went to City of London Girls, the public school, which had been evacuated to Keighley. I ...
  11. [11]
    Claire Rayner - The Times
    Oct 13, 2010 · If her ideas were sometimes controversial, they were grounded in experience, her acquaintance with people and their problems, and on the ...
  12. [12]
    Claire Rayner: Our favourite aunt | The Independent
    Apr 23, 2006 · Education: Rushmore Road School, Homerton, east London; City of London Girls School; Skinners' Company School, Welwyn Garden City; refused ...
  13. [13]
    CLAIRE RAYNER: THE PERFORMERS - AIM25 - AtoM 2.8.2
    Claire Rayner was born in January 1931 in London, and died in October 2010. She trained as a nurse at the Royal Northern Hospital, London winning the gold medal ...
  14. [14]
    Rayner; Claire (1931-2010); author, broadcaster and social ...
    She was educated at the City of London School for Girls. She trained as a nurse at the Royal Northern Hospital in London and qualified in 1954. She then studied ...
  15. [15]
    Rayner Scrutiny - RCNi
    Claire qualified at the Royal Northern Hospital in London in 1954, carrying off the hospi tal gold medal for outstanding achievement. Midwifery training ...
  16. [16]
    Claire Rayner This Is Your Life - Big Red Book
    Claire, who was born in London, spent time as a teenager in Canada before returning to the UK to train as a nurse. She worked at the Royal Northern Hospital and ...
  17. [17]
    The Meaning of Sex: A View from the Agony Column - jstor
    Mrs Claire Rayner, a journalist and broadcaster, to a conference on human ... for Woman's Own magazine which has 6| million readers, and that means I ...
  18. [18]
    Claire Rayner - the 1,000-letters-a-week agony aunt - Press Gazette
    Oct 12, 2010 · Claire Rayner, the former agony aunt of The Sun, the Sunday Mirror and Woman's Own, has died at the age of 79. At the height of her fame, ...Missing: per | Show results with:per
  19. [19]
    The Performers Series in Order by Claire Rayner - FictionDB
    Series list: The Performers (12 Books) by Claire Rayner. A sortable list in reading order and chronological order with publication date, genre, and rating.
  20. [20]
    Claire Rayner - IMDb
    She was an actress, known for Bob Martin (2000), Noel's House Party (1991) and Brass Eye (1997). She was married to Desmond Rayner. She died on 11 October 2010 ...
  21. [21]
    Claire Rayner: a nurse that became a true patient advocate
    Oct 12, 2010 · She trained as a nurse at the Royal Northern and Guy's Hospitals in London during the 1950s and later specialised as a midwife. She wrote her ...
  22. [22]
    Remembering Claire Rayner - Medical Journalists' Association
    Oct 17, 2010 · In1996 Claire was awarded an OBE 'for services to women's health'. Her entry in Who's Who runs to over 700 words. The list of non-executive ...<|separator|>
  23. [23]
    Patients Association brands NHS nurses 'cruel and demeaning'
    Aug 27, 2009 · In a report from the Patients Association, of which Ms Rayner is president, she called for “bad” nurses to be struck off the medical register ...Missing: involvement | Show results with:involvement
  24. [24]
    Agony aunt and NHS campaigner Claire Rayner dies at 79 - BBC
    Oct 12, 2010 · She wrote in the Independent at the time that she felt disillusioned with Labour after 50 years of supporting them.
  25. [25]
    Claire Rayner's last campaigning letter to David Cameron still ...
    Oct 23, 2010 · "True to her last words, the small matter of her death won't get in the way of her holding David Cameron to account over his care of the NHS.
  26. [26]
    BHA Mourns Claire Rayner (1931-2010) - Humanists UK
    Oct 12, 2010 · Claire Rayner, Vice-President and former President (1999-2004) of the British Humanist Association. I was a humanist without knowing it for ...
  27. [27]
    Claire Rayner and Desmond Rayner - Dating, Gossip, News, Photos
    (June 23, 1957 - October 11, 2010) (her death) (3 children) Rayner met her husband Desmond "Des" Rayner at Maccabi in Hampstead; the couple married in 1957.
  28. [28]
    Jay Rayner: 'My mother was flabbergasted by my second novel'
    Sep 3, 2015 · The explanation lies in Rayner's childhood years living in Harrow. Despite growing up in a family who adamantly rejected their religious Jewish ...Missing: background | Show results with:background<|control11|><|separator|>
  29. [29]
    Jay Rayner: Jay is for 'Jewish' despite an atheist upbringing
    Sep 17, 2015 · Jay Rayner speaks to Francine Wolfisz about his newly republished novel, his upbringing by atheist parents and his love for his mother Claire's chicken soup.
  30. [30]
    On a Claire day | Gender | The Guardian
    Sep 30, 2001 · It has been an eventful year for Rayner - in May she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.
  31. [31]
    Claire Rayner: How I coped with breast cancer | The Independent
    Jun 29, 2001 · Well before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I knew I'd taken a gamble. I was a prime candidate; I'm big, I had thyroid disease when I was ...
  32. [32]
    Claire Rayner: A sane voice that helped people make sense of the ...
    Oct 16, 2010 · She relished the controversy that followed her advert for sanitary towels – now with wings! – even while it baffled her. Did this have much ...
  33. [33]
    Claire Rayner had force nine vigour and a big gusty laugh - The Times
    Oct 13, 2010 · A lifelong and combative atheist, she drew her morality from a deep human sympathy and respect, and never laid down her own view ...
  34. [34]
    Claire Rayner List of Books
    Apr 11, 2024 · Claire Rayner has written 64 books. 5 books in the George Barnabas Series, 12 books in the Performers Series, 6 books in the Poppy Chronicles ...
  35. [35]
    Claire Rayner Books In Order - AddAll
    Novels · The House on the Fen (1967) · Lady Mislaid (1968) · Death on the Table (1969) · The Meddlers (1970) · A Time to Heal (1972) · The Burning Summer (1972) ...
  36. [36]
    Claire Rayner's Performers books in order - Fantastic Fiction
    Performers. 1 Gower Street (1973) 2 The Haymarket (1974) 3 Paddington Green (1975) 4 Soho Square (1976)
  37. [37]
    P is for Performers - Reading the Past
    Aug 8, 2010 · P is also for Paddington, the beginning of the title of book 3 in Claire Rayner's 12-volume series The Performers, which traces the rich, ...
  38. [38]
    Claire Rayner's Poppy Chronicles books in order - Fantastic Fiction
    Poppy Chronicles. 1 Jubilee (1987) 2 Flanders (1988) 3 Flapper (1989) 4 Blitz (1988)
  39. [39]
    Jubilee (Poppy Chronicles 1): Rayner, Claire - Amazon.com
    The marriage between Mildred Amberly and Lizah 'Kid' Harris, a Jewish boxer from the East End seems a union doomed to failure. However, they have a daughter ...
  40. [40]
    Claire Rayner's Quentin Quartet books in order - Fantastic Fiction
    Claire Rayner's Quentin Quartet book series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability.
  41. [41]
    Paying Guests (Quentin Quartet): Rayner, Claire - Amazon.com
    Book overview. The second book in the historical saga set in Victorian London, "The Quentin Quartet". In the first book, "London Lodgings", timid widow Tilly ...
  42. [42]
    Claire Rayner - Fantastic Fiction
    1. First Blood (1993) · 2. Second Opinion (1994) · 3. Third Degree (1995) · 4. Fourth Attempt (1996) · 5. Fifth Member (1997). thumb.
  43. [43]
    Claire Rayner: Books - Amazon.com
    Results · The Body Book · The Body Book · Haymarket · Haymarket · SEVEN DIALS (PERFORMERS · SEVEN DIALS (PERFORMERS · Fourth Attempt: a Dr. George Barnabas Mystery.
  44. [44]
    Claire Rayner's Lifeguide: A Commonsense Approach to Modern ...
    In 1996, she received an OBE for her service to women's and health issues. She died on October 11, 2010 at the age of 79. Bibliographic information. Title ...<|separator|>
  45. [45]
    https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/claire-rayner/364923/
  46. [46]
    Jewish and Humanist - Humanist Heritage - Humanists UK
    Claire Berenice Rayner (née Berkovitch) was a nurse, journalist, broadcaster, novelist, and agony aunt, who used her long career to impart thoughtful, ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  47. [47]
    Holy communion - New Humanist
    Nov 5, 2007 · New wave atheism is aggressively antagonistic to religion. But, argues Richard Norman, it's more fruitful to find common ground.
  48. [48]
    Atheism | Humanist Heritage
    Claire Rayner (1931-2010). The writer, TV and radio personality and social campaigner, Claire Rayner, best known for her agony aunt columns, spent most […].
  49. [49]
    [PDF] living. The numerous books, pamphlets, perodical articles ... - ERIC
    Rayner, Claire, A Parent's Guide to Sex Education, Doubleday and Company, 1969, 105 pp., $.95. Fasy to read guide to sexual development and education at a ...
  50. [50]
    https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781782040682-008/html
  51. [51]
    Sex, relationships and 'everyday psychology' on British magazine ...
    Dec 21, 2022 · marriage, birth control, abortion, divorce, cross- dressing and same ... The one exception was Claire Rayner, who had trained as a nurse.
  52. [52]
    Index | The Long Sexual Revolution: English Women, Sex, and ...
    see alsoabortion, anal sex, birth control, breastfeeding, condoms ... Rayner, Claire255, 343. Reay, Barry64, 322. Rendall's pessaries136. The Republican71.
  53. [53]
    How divorce law and attitudes to divorce have changed during the ...
    May 31, 2022 · The divorce rate doubled between 1960 and 1970 and reached a peak in 2003, when over 150,000 divorces were granted. Since that time, divorce ...
  54. [54]
    Lifetime divorce risk: Back to the 1960s - Marriage Foundation
    Lifetime divorce risk has risen from 28 per cent for couples who married in 1963, peaking at 44 per cent for couples who married in 1986, falling back down to ...
  55. [55]
    100 years of STIs in the UK: a review of national surveillance data
    Apr 13, 2018 · Following spikes after World Wars I and II, rates declined before re-emerging during the 1960s. At that time, syphilis was more common in ...
  56. [56]
    100 years of STIs in the UK: a review of national surveillance data
    Following spikes after World Wars I and II, rates declined before re-emerging during the 1960s. ... https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sexually-transmitted- ...
  57. [57]
    [PDF] Fractured Families - The Centre for Social Justice
    We have adopted an inclusive use of the term 'family breakdown' (see A8) which can be summed up in three key words: dissolution, dysfunction and 'dad-lessness'.
  58. [58]
    A brief history of the Patients Association
    Apr 24, 2023 · Claire Rayner became Chair in 1997. A former nurse, she was well known throughout the UK as a plain speaking agony aunt. She brought a new ...
  59. [59]
    Claire Rayner dies with warning on NHS reform | News - HSJ
    Oct 12, 2010 · The former president of the Patients Association never recovered from emergency intestinal surgery she had in May this year and died in hospital ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  60. [60]
    Agony aunt Claire Rayner's deathbed warning to 'haunt' Cameron ...
    Oct 13, 2010 · Claire Rayner, the agony aunt, has died with a stark deathbed warning that she would “come back and haunt” David Cameron if he does not protect the NHS.Missing: per | Show results with:per<|separator|>
  61. [61]
    These NHS reforms will keep Claire's ghost at bay - The Times
    Oct 17, 2010 · A particular passion for Claire was her campaign for better infection control in hospitals. We now publish online weekly, hospital-by-hospital ...Missing: advocacy criticism
  62. [62]
    NHS Waiting Times: How Are Different Service Waiting Times Linked?
    Jun 5, 2024 · NHS waiting times are one measure of quality of care. But patient waiting times in one service are often linked to those in another.Missing: private | Show results with:private
  63. [63]
    Length of NHS wait times is main reason for those using or ... - Ipsos
    Sep 2, 2022 · More than 4 in 10 (44%) of those using or considering private healthcare say they are doing so as NHS wait times are too long.
  64. [64]
    Private Hospitals Are Helping the NHS Cut Wait Times
    Feb 26, 2025 · Outsourcing patients to private hospitals is helping England's overstretched National Health Service ensure most people get treated more than a month faster.Missing: efficiency | Show results with:efficiency
  65. [65]
    Waiting times in healthcare: equal treatment for equal need?
    Dec 20, 2022 · Overall, most previous research suggests that patients with a lower SES are at far greater risk of experiencing longer waiting times, especially ...Data And Methods · Study Variables · Waiting TimeMissing: efficiency | Show results with:efficiency<|control11|><|separator|>
  66. [66]
    Claire Rayner - The Telegraph
    Oct 12, 2010 · By 1972 Claire Rayner was one of the four major agony aunts in Britain, along with Marjorie Proops, Peggy Makins (Evelyn Home) in Woman magazine ...
  67. [67]
    A brief history of agony aunts | Women | The Guardian
    Nov 12, 2009 · Clare Rayner, an agony aunt for many years on Women's Own and other magazines, recalls in her autobiography answering letters on everything ...
  68. [68]
    Claire Rayner - the agony aunt who told it like it is - Mirror Online
    Oct 17, 2010 · Claire Rayner - the agony aunt who told it like it is. From 1980 to 1987, she was the Sunday Mirror's advice columnist - and she was a formidable presence.Missing: Petticoat controversy
  69. [69]
    Tough love for the NHS | Claire Rayner | The Guardian
    Aug 28, 2009 · Claire Rayner: The Patients Association has exposed awful hospital neglect. Our cherished healthcare system needs a dose of regulation.Missing: impact | Show results with:impact
  70. [70]
    Jay Rayner pays tribute to his mother Claire - The Guardian
    Oct 12, 2010 · Writer and broadcaster Jay Rayner has paid tribute to his mother, Claire Rayner, the agony aunt, writer and broadcaster who has died aged 79.Missing: mentoring | Show results with:mentoring