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| Author Dick Francis dies aged 89 | Author Dick Francis dies aged 89 |
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| Writer Dick Francis, famous for his horse racing-based crime novels, has died aged 89, his family has said. | |
| Francis, who wrote some 40 best-selling novels during his career, was also a champion jockey in the 1940s and 50s and the Queen Mother's jockey. | Francis, who wrote some 40 best-selling novels during his career, was also a champion jockey in the 1940s and 50s and the Queen Mother's jockey. |
| He first published his autobiography in 1957, and his first thriller, Dead Cert, followed five years later. | He first published his autobiography in 1957, and his first thriller, Dead Cert, followed five years later. |
| Francis's most recent works, Dead Heat and Silks, were co-authored by his son Felix. | Francis's most recent works, Dead Heat and Silks, were co-authored by his son Felix. |
| Literary accolades | |
| Mr Francis said he was "devastated" at the loss of his father, who produced a novel a year during his long career. | |
| "We share in the joy that he brought to so many over such a long life. It is an honour for me to be able to continue his remarkable legacy through the new novels," he added. | |
| Francis went on to sell some 60 million books worldwide and his novels were published into 20 languages. | |
| His works were also regularly featured in volumes of Reader's Digest condensed books. | |
| They were all written in the first person and were meticulously researched and written in longhand. | |
| Francis went on to win numerous accolades for popular fiction in his genre, including Crime Writer's Association lifetime achievement award in 1996. | |
| He was awarded a CBE in 2000 for services to literature. | |
| During his racing career, Francis's most famous moment was when his horse, Devon Loch, fell when he was close to winning to 1956 Grand National. | |
| After he retired from the saddle, he spent 16 years as the Sunday Express racing correspondent. | |
| He spent his final years in retirement in the Cayman Islands and his family said he "died of old age". | |
| A private funeral is due to be held in the Caribbean with a memorial service in London at a later stage, a spokesman added. | |
| The next novel co-written with his son is due to be published in the autumn. | |
| What are your memories of Dick Francis? Did you meet or work with him? What is his legacy? | |
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