Author Factsheet

“Dick wrote over 100 stories, many of which have animal characters because Dick liked them and because “it’s fun putting words in their mouths”. Ronald Gordon King-Smith OBE AKA Dick King-Smith was born in 1922 and raised in Gloucestershire, England. (Ronald Gordon King-Smith never liked his first name, he much prefered being called Dick.)
He served with the Grenadier Guards during World War Two, spent 20 years dairy farming (inspiration for many of his books), taught in a primary school for a while before becoming a full-time writer.

Dick was best known for his book “The Sheep Pig”, which was the basis of the much loved Oscar Winning Film called “Babe”. He won the 1984 Guardian Prize for “The Sheep Pig” and was also named Children’s Book Author of the Year in 1991. Pigs have featured in several of his books as they are his “favourite animal”.

Interestingly his first book “The Fox Busters” was published when he as 54 years of age, from that moment he has never stopped writing. His love of animals is reflected in his work, he was perfectly placed to create the magical animal stories which enchant children and adults alike. But he does write about humans too and he has a great sense of humour. In 2001, Dick’s autobiography, ”Chewing The Cud”, was published to great acclaim.”

Dick King-Smith was awarded an Honorary Master degree from the University of West Of England in 1992, and given the OBE in 2010.