MY GIRL J.K.

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jun 22, 2003 | by MIKE HAMILTON

J.K. Rowling's father has spoken for the first time of how she rose from the depths of despair after the death of her mother and a violent first marriage.

In a remarkable exclusive interview, as millions around the world scrambled to get the fifth Harry Potter book Order of the Phoenix yesterday, Peter Rowling also revealed how false claims that he had an affair while J.K.'s mother Anne battled multiple sclerosis placed a huge strain on his relationship with his daughter.

He spoke movingly about how J.K. was forced to flee from her violent first husband.

And he told how although the daughter he knows as Joanne Kathleen is now the world's most successful author, she is still haunted by her traumatic past.

The lowest point came when Anne died in 1990, aged just 45. She had always read to Joanne and younger sister Dianne, and her love of books helped inspire her elder daughter when she created the boy wizard now loved by millions all over the world.

Anne eventually became wheelchair-bound as her wasting disease worsened. Peter, 58, said: "Although the MS was very virulent in the later years, her death came suddenly. It was devastating. Myself, Joanne and Di were absolutely heartbroken."

Joanne travelled to Portugal as she struggled to overcome her grief and met handsome journalist Jorge Arantes in a bar. They bonded over a shared love of literature, married in 1992 and had a daughter Jessica, now nine, in August 1993.

But the marriage turned into a violent nightmare for Joanne.

Retired engineer Peter said: "She has told me he used to knock her about and because of that I hate him.

"Any man who hits a woman is a coward and I could only wish all the evil in the world on that man. I cannot imagine anything worse than the torture of having a young child and a violent husband."

The marriage lasted only 13 months, ending in November 1993 when Joanne left their Oporto home after a blazing row. She fled with baby Jessica to Edinburgh to stay with sister Dianne.

"That marriage was a low point and an awful time for her," said Peter. "But it may have spurred her on and I am so proud of the way she has recovered.

"I do know Jorge was violent to Joanne and that's why she was best off out of it.

"I used to ring her a lot when she was in Portugal with him. I knew there was something wrong because she could never speak properly as there was someone else in the room.

"When I went over to Portugal Jess had just been born and everything was fine but I knew it wasn't always like that."

After fleeing her marriage, Joanne struggled on pounds 69 per week state benefits as she wrote her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in an Edinburgh cafe. She struggled to find a publisher - but once in print the book and its sequels became a worldwide sensation.

Joanne, 37, is now happily remarried to Dr Neil Murray, 34. They have a three-month-old son David and share a pounds 1million mansion overlooking the Tay in Perthshire, an Edinburgh villa and a pounds 4.5million townhouse in London's Kensington.

Joanne has said she is happier than ever, but admits she feels some guilt at her huge fortune. After selling 140million books worldwide she is said to be richer than The Queen with pounds 280million stashed away .

Joanne shared a happy childhood with parents Peter and Anne in a cottage at Tutshill, Gloucestershire.

Peter said: "From the age of three Joanne could read a newspaper article or a book. She was always writing plays and stories for her friends and sister to read and perform.

"Joanne loved Noddy, the Wind in the Willows and Thomas the Tank Engine.

"These were the sort of books that were read to her over and over again. Looking back I suppose that set her on her way."

HIS elder daughter was a quiet girl, but grew in confidence when she started at Wyedean Comprehensive School in Gloucestershire, where she became head girl.

Peter said: "Joanne was a bit of a livewire. She had a lot of mates and was very close to her sister.

"Anne and I also opened up a youth club and Joanne and Di loved it and would always come along with their friends."

Joanne was very close to her mother, who worked as a lab assistant at the school. She was just 12 when Anne first developed her illness - the first inkling came when she noticed her mother was unable to pick up a teapot. As Anne's condition got worse, Joanne went on to study for a degree in languages at Exeter University. She was working for Amnesty International in Manchester when her mother died. Peter said: "We thought that when Anne went into a wheelchair that was where the illness would end. We had not read about people dying from MS and her death came as a massive shock.

"Jo was working in Manchester and Di was in London. They both came straight home to Tutshill.

"Daughters always have a particularly close bond with their mothers and that was the case with my two. Anne was always there for the girls as they grew up while I was away at work a lot.

"When she fell ill it was very difficult for all of us, especially Jo and Di, who were growing up. As the girls got older they took up careers and moved away but their mother was always in their minds."