Barbara Tate

Barbara Tate (2 June 1927 – 12 November 2009) was a British artist and writer, perhaps best known for her bestselling book West End Girls, which was published shortly after her death.

A violent man, he once tied a noose around her neck when she was aged 3 and balanced her on her toes until she was rescued hours later when her mother came home.

Abandoned soon after by her mother Elsie Irene, née Williams (1904–1973), she was brought up by her maternal grandparents.

[2] Her paintings were awarded gold and silver medals from the Paris Salon and the Grand Prix de la Cote d'Azur.

[citation needed] The manuscript was actually completed in 1977 but Tate withheld publication for 32 years believing her former occupation might embarrass her family.