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Lynne Franks

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Lynne Franks
OBE
Picture of Lynne Franks
Franks in 2007
Born (1948-04-16) 16 April 1948 (age 76)
London, England
Known forFounded Lynne Franks PR,
Campaigner for women's issues
RelativesJosh Howie (son),
Jessica Howie (daughter)

Lynne Joanne Franks[1] OBE (born 16 April 1948) is a British public relations (PR) agent, writer and entrepreneur. Founding her consultancy in London in the early 1970s, she has represented a variety of well-known brands, as well as media and fashion celebrities. Franks is also known for her promotion of ethical, political and feminist causes.

Early life

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Franks was born and raised in North London in 1948. The daughter of a Jewish butcher, Franks attended Minchenden Grammar School in Southgate,[2] leaving at the age of 16. She completed a shorthand typing course at Pitman's College and was a regular dancer on the popular music TV programme Ready Steady Go![3] Franks initially worked in various secretarial jobs before taking a journalistic role at Petticoat, working under Eve Pollard and alongside Janet Street-Porter.[4] Whilst assigned to write and edit the Freemans in-house publications, she met Paul Howie, an Australian fashion buyer and designer, whom she later married.[5]

Lynne Franks PR

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Following a brief period as a PR assistant, at the encouragement of the fashion designer Katharine Hamnett, Franks started her own PR agency at the age of 21. Her first clients included Hamnett's own fashion business, Tuttabankem,[6] and Wendy Dagworthy.[7] Working initially from her home, the new agency then moved to the Covent Garden area of London.[8] The agency subsequently worked with high street brands including Harvey Nichols and Tommy Hilfiger,[9][10] and represented individuals such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Annie Lennox, Lenny Henry and Ruby Wax.[2][11] Franks PR also worked briefly with the Labour Party in 1986.[12]

In 1984 Franks used her relationship with the Murjani Corporation (owners of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans) to persuade them to sponsor a large fashion tent outside the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington.[13] This helped to grow the then fledgling London Fashion Week.[14][15]

In October 1993, she stepped down as chairperson[16][17][18] to concentrate on broadcasting.[19]

It has been claimed[20] that the character Edina Monsoon in the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, created by Jennifer Saunders, a former client of Franks, was intended to be a satirised version of Franks during this period.[21][22] The claim has been denied by both Franks and Saunders.[23][24]

Later work

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In July 1995, Franks chaired a consortium[25] that launched Viva! 963, Britain's first radio station for women, with Franks herself hosting a twice-weekly interview show entitled Frankly Speaking.[26]

In 1997, Franks published her autobiography, Absolutely Now!: A Futurist's Journey to Her Inner Truth,[27] describing Franks' emotional and spiritual journey since leaving the world of PR, including her spiritual experiences at locations such as the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland and the Esalen Institute in California and her ideas on feminism, environmental issues and ethical business practices.

Following the book's publication, Franks moved to California, and formed GlobalFusion, a cause-related marketing agency, working to promote environmentally-friendly fashion and cosmetic brands[28] and helping to launch The Big Issue in Los Angeles.[29]

In July 2011, Franks was awarded an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University in recognition of her career achievements in business and the media.[30]

SEED

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Whilst in California, Franks developed the idea of SEED, an acronym for Sustainable Enterprise and Empowerment Dynamics, as a model for using principles of femininity, sustainability and social responsibility in business.[citation needed] In 2000, Franks published The SEED Handbook: The Feminine Way to Create Business.[31][32]

Franks has since published two more books. In 2004, she published Grow: The Modern Woman's Handbook.[33] This was followed in 2007 by Bloom: A Woman's Journal for Inspired Living.[34]

In collaboration with Tribal Education, Franks developed the SEED Women into Enterprise Programme, a blended learning course for self-employment. Aimed particularly at women from disadvantaged communities around the UK,[35] the programme has been delivered through local government agencies, training companies and charities.[36][37][38] In 2009, she launched the SEED Community Site, a social networking website to connect women entrepreneurs around the world.[39]

She was a member of the advisory board for McDonald's in the UK, helping to initiate their Women's Leadership Development Programme[40] and worked with Regus to create and develop the B.Hive network of women's business clubs.[41][42]

V-Day campaign

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Franks was the chair of V-Day UK, a charity created by Eve Ensler, that campaigns to end violence against women and girls. In March 2009, she organised a Women of Influence Lunch at the House of Lords, to draw attention to the campaign.

The following November, Franks organised the Great Congo Demonstration at the Royal Albert Hall calling for an end to the systemic sexual violence against women in the region.

Notes

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  1. ^ "New Year's Honours 2018" (PDF). Gov.uk. Government Digital Service. 29 December 2017. p. 28. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b The International Who's Who (2004), p. 561, Europa Publications, UK. ISBN 1-85743-217-7
  3. ^ Sale, Johnathan. "Passed/Failed: Lynne Franks", The Independent on Sunday, UK, 1 May 1997. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Teen Magazines - Magforum - Magazines for teenagers". magforum.com.
  5. ^ Franks (1997) p. 7.
  6. ^ Retrieved on 27 May 2010. Archived 26 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ O'Byrne (2009) p. 124.
  8. ^ Franks (1997) p. 16.
  9. ^ Cook, Emma, "Life without Lynne Franks", The Independent, UK, 15 September 1997
  10. ^ Turner, Janice. "Sweetie, Darling, You're a Goddess", The Times, London (UK), 6 March 2004, p. 12.
  11. ^ Dahle, Cheryl. "How to Make your Mark", Fast Company Magazine, (US), 30 November 2000 (Issue 41)
  12. ^ Tyler, Rodney. Campaign!: the selling of the Prime Minister, Grafton, 1987, p. 65. ISBN 0-246-13257-4
  13. ^ O'Byrne (2009) p. 127.
  14. ^ Alexander, Hilary. "London Fashion Week celebrates its 25th anniversary", The Daily Telegraph, UK, 15 February 2009
  15. ^ Brown, Annie. "The Frock & Rolly Years; London Fashion Week celebrates quarter of a century of cutting-edge style, stars and controversy", Daily Record, 18 February 2009, p. 30. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  16. ^ Editorial. "PR Doyenne Steps Down in Boardroom Shuffle", The Times, London, 1 October 1993, p. 3.
  17. ^ Leask, Annie. "Absolutely Fabulous PR Lynne Steps Down", Daily Express, London, 30 September 1993, Front Page.
  18. ^ Low, Valentine. "Lynne Franks Quits as the Queen of PR", Evening Standard, London, 30 September 1993, p. 3.
  19. ^ Editorial. "PR Queen Goes", The Independent, London, 1 October 1993, p. 7.
  20. ^ "Absolutely Fabulous inspiration Lynne Franks gets OBE". BBC News. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  21. ^ Martin, Katherine (2001). Women of Spirit: Stories of Courage from the Women Who Lived Them, p. 35, New World Library. ISBN 1-57731-149-3
  22. ^ Tonkin, Cindy (2002). Consulting mastery: the ability myth : when being good is not enough, p. 43, Aragon Gray Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-1-875889-37-2
  23. ^ ""I convinced myself Edina wasn't me"". www.stylist.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  24. ^ Lawrence, Janie. "Life's Ab Fab Now, Says the Real Edina – Profile of Lynne Franks", Daily Mirror, London 29 June 1995, p. 31.
  25. ^ Mitchell, Caroline (2000). Women and Radio: Airing Differences, p. 106, Routledge. ISBN 0-415-22071-8
  26. ^ Davidson, Andrew. "That Woman", The Independent, London, 24 June 1995. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  27. ^ Donnally, Trish. "Absolutely Enlightened", San Francisco Chronicle, California, 23 July 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2010
  28. ^ Murphy, Claire. "CSR: Urging Ethical Work", PR Week, UK, 19 April 2002
  29. ^ Anderton, Frances. "Inside Story: LA Story", The Guardian, London, 8 July 1998, p.T8.
  30. ^ "Middlesex University Website".
  31. ^ Franks, Lynne (2000). The SEED Handbook: The Feminine Way to Create Business. Jeremy P. Tarcher, UK. ISBN 1-58542-015-8
  32. ^ Byrne, Ciar. "Lynne Franks: Working Woman", The Independent, London, 23 May 2005, p. 4.
  33. ^ Franks, Lynne (2004). Grow: The Modern Woman's Handbook – How to Connect with Self, Lovers, and Others, Hay House, UK. ISBN 1-4019-0226-X
  34. ^ Franks, Lynne (2007). Bloom: A Woman's Journal for Inspired Living, Chronicle Books, UK. ISBN 0-8118-5755-7
  35. ^ Tribal Learning and Skills Catalogue 2008 Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  36. ^ Women's Leadership Group Report, Edition 3 Archived 29 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, The Prince's Trust. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  37. ^ Offender Learning Services Newsletter Archived 5 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  38. ^ Report from The Prince's Trust. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  39. ^ SEED Community Website. Retrieved 24 June 2010
  40. ^ Church, Dawson (2007). Einstein's Business: Engaging Soul, Imagination, and Excellence in the Workplace, p. 68, Elite Books, US. ISBN 1-60070-015-2
  41. ^ Spicer, Kate. "It's good to share", The Sunday Times, London, 4 July 2010, p. 12. (Style Magazine). Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  42. ^ Higgins, Ria. "Relative values: Me and my absolutely fabulous mother", The Sunday Times Magazine, London, 8 August 2010, p. 8.

References

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  • O'Byrne, Robert (2009). Style City: How London Became a Fashion Capital, Frances Lincoln Ltd, UK. ISBN 0-7112-2895-7
  • Europa Publications (2004). The International Who's Who 2004, Routledge, UK. ISBN 1-85743-217-7
  • Fraser, Kennedy (1981). The fashionable mind: reflections on fashion, 1970–1981, Knopf, USA. ISBN 0-394-51775-X
  • Franks, Lynne (1997). Absolutely Now!: A Futurist's Journey to Her Inner Truth, Woodstock, Overlook Press. ISBN 0-87951-859-6
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