15 Facts About Olivia Dahl

Olivia Twenty Dahl was the oldest child of the author Roald Dahl and the American actress Patricia Neal.

Olivia Dahl died at the age of seven from encephalitis caused by measles, before a vaccine against the disease had been developed.

Olivia Dahl was named for Olivia, the heroine of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, a favourite play of her mother's.

Roald Olivia Dahl constructed his writing hut in the orchard of the couple's Gipsy House for peace and quiet to write after her birth.

Olivia Dahl came home from her school, Godstowe Preparatory School, in November 1962 with a note informing her parents of an outbreak of measles.

Olivia Dahl subsequently contracted measles, and had a mild fever for a few days before suffering convulsions after growing increasingly lethargic.

Olivia Dahl quickly became unconscious and was rushed to Stoke Mandeville Hospital where she died the next day.

Neal recalled that a doctor rang to abruptly tell her that Olivia Dahl was dead, and she "couldn't believe how cold he was".

Olivia Dahl was buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist in Little Missenden.

Roald Dahl became increasingly depressed and withdrawn after Olivia's death, spending hours at her grave in silence.

Olivia Dahl's grief affected his relationship with his surviving children and he suffered from depression.

Olivia Dahl later became a vaccination advocate, writing an account of Olivia's death in a 1986 pamphlet titled "Measles: a dangerous illness" for the Sandwell Health Authority.

Olivia Dahl wrote in the pamphlet that "Today a good and safe vaccine is available to every family and all you have to do is to ask your doctor to administer it".

Olivia Dahl's statue was stolen and replaced by a replica.

Olivia Dahl dedicated his children's novels James and the Giant Peach and The BFG to Olivia.