Elisabeth Kirkby

Elisabeth Wilma Kirkby OAM (born 26 January 1921), alternatively Elizabeth Kirkby, is a retired English Australian theatre and television actress, radio broadcaster, writer, producer and director. She is also a former politician with the Australian Democrats, serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1981 to 1998 and Australia's oldest university graduate.

Acting and political career

Born in Bolton, Greater Manchester, Kirkby's acting career began in the United Kingdom where she spent three years working for the war effort with the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and as an entertainer, writer and producer for Stars in Battledress. She then spent fifteen years living in Malaya, writing, producing and directing for radio and the arts. Then she moved to Australia, where she wrote and produced documentaries and education programs for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and acted on television in guest starring roles. These included roles in The Rovers, in Crawford Productions' espionage drama Hunter and their police drama Homicide. Then came the role of Lucy Sutcliffe in soap opera Number 96, which made Kirkby a household name. As of 2016, she is the oldest surviving regular cast member from the series.

Kirkby

Coordinates: 53°28′57″N 2°53′31″W / 53.4826°N 2.8920°W / 53.4826; -2.8920

Kirkby ⁱ/ˈkɜːrbi/ is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England. Historically in Lancashire, it developed from the 1950s to the 1970s as a housing overspill of Liverpool. It is roughly 5 miles (8 km) north of Huyton and 6 miles (10 km) north-east of Liverpool. The population in 2001 was 42,744. It is believed to have been founded in 870 although there is archaeological evidence for settlement from the Bronze Age.

History

Historically in Lancashire, Kirkby is believed to have been founded circa 870, although archaeological digs have produced evidence of habitation in the Bronze Age. The name Kirk-by, from the Old Norse word elements 'kirkja' and 'byr', believed to be of Danish origin, meaning 'church' and 'settlement' or 'village'. The town's settlers arrived via Ireland around 900. The first direct evidence of a settlement dates from 1086 and the Domesday Book, with a reference to Cherchebi – population 70. Ownership of the land containing modern-day Kirkby – established as the West Derby Hundred in the 11th century – passed through many hands until 1596, when the Molyneux family purchased the hundred in its entirety. After a brief loss of patronage in 1737 as a result of the head of the family taking holy orders, in 1771 the Molyneux family were made Earls of Sefton and regained their lands.

Kirkby (disambiguation)

Kirkby may refer to:

Places in the United Kingdom

People