FRAN THOBURN I was born in the USA in 1932, and was raised on the shore of Lake Erie in a very conservative up-tight family.

Since I was the only daughter and a middle child, I spent much of my time trying to keep up with my older brother when he climbed trees, played sports and ran around the neighbourhood. I also used to have royal battles with both brothers, which usually ended in riotous wrestling matches.

I had a happy childhood, all in all, even though I disagreed with much of what my father said. As a teenager he and I used to have a lot of disagreements about politics, racism and philosophy. I think he heaved a sigh of relief when I left home to attend university and then got married and had four children.

The first child was born in Munich where I lived for two years in the early fifties. My husband was a private in the US Army and was not allowed to have his wife with him, but true to my rebellious nature, I went to Munich anyway, on my own, found a place to live and stayed for the duration of my husband's stint in the army.

During the Vietnam War I was active in the antiwar movement in Ohio. I also worked with the civil rights people to integrate the city we were living in then. I took teacher training to be able to work in the inner city schools that were being integrated and were facing major challenges because of racist attitudes.

In 1970 I left the USA and moved to Canada, because I wanted my family to live in a less violent society. In Toronto I helped start the Women's Health Centre to empower women, especially those on the margins of society because of poverty. Peace and social justice groups absorbed much of my time and energy. In 1985 I decided I'd been married long enough, so I moved to Victoria, British Columbia where I wrote and produced a weekly radio program on peace issues. Later I and eleven other peace activists started the Raging Grannies, basing our protests on singing strong satirical songs about peace, environment and social justice issues.

Over the years I have worked as a teacher, psychotherapist, counsellor, Bed and Breakfast owner, as well as varied other jobs as needed (carpentry, filling, midwifing, clerking, etc.).

Two strong influences on my life were my great-grandmother who worked and protested to get women the right to vote in the United States, and my grandmother who smuggled contraceptives from Europe for the birth control clinic she and her friends illegally ran.

Read the previous biography of Shirley Langer.
Read the previous biography of Freda Knott.