Sophie Leyton (1928–2009)

Sheila Frances O'Nions on 10 October 1928 in Birmingham, England, UK, the daughter of Margaret (Moran) and Wilfred O'Nions, a civil servant. She studied at the Notre Dame Convent at Birkdale, Southport. During the World War II, her family moved to Southport, Lancashire, where she met Desmond "Des" Walsh, son of Thomas Walsh, who had a jewelry store at 39 Chapel Street since 1926. She studied at Southport College of Art, from 1945 to 1948. In 22 April 1950, Sheila married Des Walsh, and they had two daughters, Frances Mary "Fran" Walsh and Teresa "Tess" Walsh. Sheila worked during years in her husband's familiar jewelry store, with her husband, her husband elder brother Gerard and his wife Dorothy.

In 1971, Sheila joined the Southport Writers' Circle. Published in 1975, her debut novel, "The Golden Songbird", won the Netta Muskett award for new writers from the Romantic Novelists' Association, and in 1984, her novel, A Highly Respectable Marriage won the Elizabeth Goudge award. Since 1980, she became the vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and later the thirteenth elected Chairman (1985-1987). En 1986, she was elected life president of the Southport Writers' Circle.

Sheila suffered from Alzheimer's disease in her later years. Survived by her husband and their two daughters, she passed away in 20 January 2009, at 80.