Peter Ransley, Screenwriter and Medical Charity Pioneer, Passes Away at 94
Peter Ransley, the esteemed screenwriter and novelist renowned for his emotionally charged television dramas and co-founding the charity Action Against Medical Accidents, has died at the age of 94 due to bronchopneumonia. His prolific career, which included award-winning plays and impactful adaptations, left an indelible mark on British television and healthcare advocacy.
A Legacy of Human Drama and Social Impact
Ransley's writing often delved into the complexities of human emotions, as seen in works like The Price, a taut thriller featuring Peter Barkworth as a business executive grappling with an IRA kidnapping, and The Cry, starring Sarah Lancashire as a grieving mother. However, it was his 1980 BBC Play for Today, Minor Complications, that sparked a significant social movement. Based on a real case of medical negligence, the play depicted a woman's struggle after a botched sterilization led to a punctured bowel and misdiagnosed pain.
Following the broadcast, Ransley received hundreds of letters from viewers sharing similar experiences, prompting him to place an advertisement in the Guardian seeking support for a new charity. In 1982, alongside his second wife, Cynthia, a medical social worker, and solicitor Arnold Simanowitz, he established Action for Victims of Medical Accidents, later renamed Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA). This organization has since played a crucial role in raising awareness about patient safety and driving legal reforms for those affected by avoidable harm in healthcare.
Early Career and Breakthroughs
Born in Leeds in 1931 to Hilda and Arthur Ransley, a violinist turned dry-cleaner, Ransley initially studied chemistry at Queen Mary College but dropped out. After national service in Singapore, where he wrote for the RAF's Changi Broadcasting Service, he entered journalism, eventually editing Plastics & Rubber Weekly. His passion for playwriting led him to an evening class at City Lit in London, where his work Disabled caught the attention of actor-director Richard Wilson. This led to productions at the Stables theatre in Manchester and a screen adaptation by Granada Television in 1970.
Ransley's early television successes included Night Duty for the BBC and Blinkers for ITV, paving the way for a full-time writing career. He scripted episodes for soaps like Rooms and Couples, while also creating original plays such as Bread Or Blood and The Story of Ruth. His 1981 Royal Television Society writer's award for Minor Complications and Kate the Good Neighbour highlighted his talent for tackling sensitive subjects.
Notable Works and Adaptations
Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Ransley continued to produce compelling dramas. The Price in 1985 blended tension with emotional conflict, while Inside Story in 1986 explored newspaper drama. Later works included Underbelly, focusing on political corruption, and The Cormorant, based on Stephen Gregory's novel. In 2005, his BBC adaptation of Sarah Waters's novel Fingersmith, a Victorian crime story about con-artists and romance, earned a Bafta nomination.
He also adapted his own novels for the screen, such as The Hawk and Bright Hair, and wrote a trilogy set during the English civil war. Beyond his creative output, Ransley was a lifelong activist, participating in campaigns from Ban the Bomb marches to anti-Brexit demonstrations.
Personal Life and Survivors
Ransley was married twice: first to Hazel Rew, ending in divorce, and then to Cynthia Harris in 1974. He is survived by Cynthia, their son Nicholas, daughter Rebecca, and four grandchildren. His legacy endures through his contributions to television drama and his unwavering commitment to social justice, particularly in healthcare advocacy.
