One of Fleet Street’s top journalists has been lined up by Birmingham Press Club for a celebrity dinner event in May.
Ann Leslie, made a Dame in the 2007 new year’s honours, will visit the Midlands to talk about her career as a reporter for the Daily Mail.
Dame Ann has been shot at by Bosnian snipers, stood beside the prison gates when Nelson Mandela was released, witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall – and was taught how to play poker by Count Basie.
Born in India, Dame Ann began work in the 60s at the Manchester office of the Daily Express, graduating to rival the Daily Mail.
After starting off writing show business stories, including memorable interviews with the likes of David Niven, James Mason, Merle Oberon and Muhammed Ali, she switched to foreign correspondent.
She has covered key moments in world history, including wars, five superpower summits and every US presidential election since 1976. She has reported from more than 70 countries. Still writing regularly for the Mail, Dame Ann recently published her autobiography, Killing My Own Snakes.
Press Club chairman John Lamb said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the career of one of the greatest reporters – surely an accolade to which every journalist aspires. We are pleased to have the opportunity to make her an honorary life member of the Press Club and look forward to hearing from her.”
