Born to a middle - class family in Edwardian Hampstead , he attended Oxford University , although left without graduating .
Sir John Betjeman ( 1906 -- 1984 ) was a twentieth - century English poet , writer and broadcaster .
Born to a middle - class family in Edwardian Hampstead , John Betjeman attended Oxford University , although left without graduating .
Sir John Betjeman ( 1906 -- 1984 ) was a twentieth - century English poet , writer and broadcaster .