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Drinkwater was born in Leytonstone, London, to a family whose father was a teacher and
headmaster. From 1891, he lived with his grandfather whilst attending school at Oxford
where he excelled more at athletics rather than in academic subjects. At age 15, he left
school to work as a junior clerk in the Nottingham, but later Birmingham, based Northern
Assurance Company.
His theatrical leanings began when he played Fabian in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in an amateur
group. His first poems were published in 1903 followed by Lyrical and Other Poems in 1908.
Plays and other poetry followed. Drinkwater wrote well received historical dramas that were
produced to great acclaim in London and America.
He married Kathleen Walpole in 1906 subsequently leaving regular employment in 1908 in order
to act as President of the Birmingham Dramatic and Literary Club but subsequently became
Manager of the newly built Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He was also a member of The Dymock
poets named from the Gloucester village of that name. The first world war, however, led
to the death of Rupert Brooke and Edward Thomas and also to the return to America of
Robert Frost which by 1917 led to the effective disbandment of the group.
He was divorced in 1924 following which he married the Australian
violinist Daisy Kennedy. He co-founded the Malvern Festival in 1929 and by 1937 completed
his film, The King's People.
Shortly afterwards, he and his wife were injured in a car accident, and he later suffered a
fatal heart attack after experiencing jubilation at Oxford's victory in the traditional
inter varsity boat race.
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