Deborah Orr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deborah Orr
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|
|---|---|
| Born |
Deborah Jane Orr
23 September 1962 Motherwell, Scotland
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| Died | 19 October 2019 (aged 57) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 1980s–2018 |
| Spouse(s) |
Will Self
(m. 1997; div. 2018) |
| Children | 2 |
Deborah Jane Orr (born 23 September 1962 – died 19 October 2019) was a British journalist. She was a well-known writer for newspapers like The Guardian and The Independent. She also wrote for many other publications.
Contents
Early Life and School
Deborah Orr was born in Motherwell, Scotland, on 23 September 1962. Her parents were Winifred and John Orr. Her father worked in a factory. She grew up in Motherwell with her brother.
Deborah went to Garrion Academy in Wishaw. Later, she studied English at the University of St Andrews. She graduated from university in 1983.
Her Career as a Journalist
Deborah Orr started her career as a writer. She was a deputy editor at City Limits magazine. This magazine was run by its workers.
Until 1990, she wrote for New Statesman. In 1990, she began writing regularly for The Guardian newspaper. From 1993 to 1998, she was the editor of the Guardian Weekend magazine.
After 1998, Deborah worked as a freelance journalist. This means she wrote for different newspapers and magazines. She was also a regular writer for The Independent newspaper.
In 2018, her column for The Guardian ended. She then joined the i newspaper as a regular writer. In 2020, after she passed away, her book Motherwell: A Girlhood was published. It was also read on BBC Radio 4.
Her Beliefs and Writings
Deborah Orr often wrote about important social issues. She cared deeply about people facing difficulties. For example, she wrote about people who were homeless. She also wrote about the need for food banks.
She also discussed challenges faced by the National Health Service (NHS). This is the public healthcare system in the UK. She believed it needed more support. Deborah also wrote about problems in the prison system. She wanted to bring attention to these issues.
Her Personal Life
In 1997, Deborah Orr married Will Self, an English author. They had two sons together. They lived in Stockwell. They separated in 2017 and divorced in 2018.
In 2010, Deborah found out she had breast cancer. She received treatment for it. This included a mastectomy. In 2017, she wrote about her struggles with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a type of mental health condition.
Deborah Orr passed away from breast cancer in October 2019. She was 57 years old.
