P. L. Travers was born in 1899 in Maryborough in Queensland, Australia and was one of three sisters. She worked as a secretary, a dancer and an actress, but writing was P. L. Travers's real love, and for many years she was a journalist. It was while recuperating from a serious illness that she wrote Mary Poppins - "to while away the days, but also to put down something that had been in my mind for a long time", she said.
She recieved an OBE in 1977, and died in 1996.
Sir Alan Parker is a director, writer and producer. His feature films have won nineteen BAFTA awards, ten Golden Globes and ten Oscars. His films include Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning, The Commitments, Evita, Fame, Birdy, Angel Heart and Angela's Ashes. He was founding chairman of the UK Film Council and past chairman of the BFI.
Sir Alan received the CBE in 1995 and a knighthood in 2002. He is also an Officier Des Arts et Lettres (France).