Richmal Crompton Lamburn was born in 1890 in on November 15 1890 in Bury, Lancashire. She was educated in Cheshire, and later at London University.

She pursued a career in teaching and whilst teaching classics at Bromley High School for Girls, she wrote short stories for magazines in her spare time. Out of these short stories was born William Brown.

Richmal Crompton's first professionally published story appeared in the Girl's Own Paper in 1918. A serious attack of polio in 1923 forced her to give up her career as a teacher, and she became a full time writer.

A quick succession of William books were published, a total of 38 . Besides the William books she wrote the 'Jimmy' books for children, and a number of adult fiction books, but these never reached the same level of sucess.

At the time of her death in 1969, more than eight million copies of William books had been sold. William has appeared on radio, BBC television and a film starring Dennis Waterman.

Richmal Crompton's home was in Bromley, Kent, and this plaque may be seen at 9 Cherry Orchard Road where she lived with her mother from 1917 to 1928. The first nine books were written at Cherry Orchard Road, and she later moved to Oakley Road nearby.