10 Facts About Caroline Benn

Benn was born Caroline Middleton DeCamp in Cincinnati, Ohio, the eldest daughter of Anne Hetherington and James Milton DeCamp, a Cincinnati lawyer.

Caroline Benn earned an English MA on Jacobean drama at University College London in 1951.

Caroline Benn met Tony Benn over tea at Worcester College, Oxford, in 1948, and just nine days later he proposed to her on a park bench in the city.

Caroline Benn devoted her life to comprehensive education and was co-founder of the Campaign for Comprehensive Education.

Caroline Benn sent her own children to Holland Park School, one of the first comprehensive schools in the country.

Caroline Benn played a significant role in her husband's political career, earning popularity among his colleagues who respected her views, which were often more radical than Caroline Benn's.

Caroline Benn is personally credited with having suggested the title of the Labour Party manifesto for the 1964 general election.

Caroline Benn proposed The New Britain, and it eventually became Let's Go With Labour for the New Britain.

Caroline Benn was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 1996, having been unwell for about a year, but fought the illness for several further years.

Caroline Benn became increasingly frail during 2000, having developed spinal metastases, and died at Charing Cross Hospital, London, on 22 November 2000, aged 74.