Betty Neels facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evelyn Jessy Neels Meijer
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| Born | Evelyn Jessy Neels 15 September 1909 Devon, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 7 June 2001 (aged 91) England, United Kingdom |
| Pen name | Betty Neels |
| Occupation | Nurse, Midwife, Night Superintendent, then a Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | British |
| Period | 1969–2001 |
| Genre | Romance novel |
| Spouse | Johannes Meijer |
| Children | 1 |
Betty Neels (born September 15, 1909 – died June 7, 2001) was a very popular British writer. She wrote over 134 romance novels! Her books were first published by Mills & Boon in the United Kingdom. Later, they were also printed by Harlequin in North America. She started writing in 1969 and continued until she passed away. Her stories are known for being sweet and gentle.
Contents
Who Was Betty Neels?
Betty Neels was born Evelyn Jessy Neels on September 15, 1909. She grew up in Leyton, England, which is now part of Greater London. Her family had strong connections to public service. She spent her childhood and teenage years in Devonshire.
From Nurse to Novelist
Early Life and Training
Betty went to a boarding school when she was young. After school, she trained to become a nurse. She earned special certificates to be a State Registered Nurse and a State Certificate of Midwifery. This meant she was qualified to care for patients and help with births.
In 1939, she joined the Territorial Army Nursing Service (TANS). This group later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves. She was sent to France to help at a medical station. She worked there until 1940. Later, she worked as a nurse in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
A New Chapter: Marriage and Travel
While working in Northern Ireland, Betty met a man from the Netherlands named Johannes Meijer. They got married in 1942. In 1945, they had a daughter.
After they married, Betty and Johannes lived in London. Then, they moved to the Netherlands for thirteen years. Betty continued her nursing career there. When they returned to England, she kept working as a nurse. Before she retired, she had become a Night Superintendent. This was a senior role, overseeing nurses during the night.
Betty Neels passed away in a hospital on June 7, 2001. She was 91 years old.
The World of Her Books
Betty Neels started her writing career after she retired from nursing. Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969. She wrote for Mills & Boon and Harlequin for 30 years. She kept writing even when she was in her 90s. She wrote an amazing 134 novels in total!
What Her Stories Are About
Her novels often share similar themes and characters. The main male and female characters usually meet by chance. Love then grows between them. The female character is often like a "Cinderella" figure. Sometimes, she is described as a "splendidly built" or strong woman.
You will often find family pets in her stories. Many characters also know a lot about old and valuable items. A common hero in her books is a Dutch surgeon.
