Born in Singapore in 1932, he was an only child and also spent time in Australia, before his parents returned to the UK where he completed his schooling before going on to study at Oxford.
In addition to penning a number of children’s books, Snell also worked in the media, and it was during his time in London as a BBC radio producer that he met Binchy.
The couple married in 1977 and lived together at a home in Dalkey in Dublin, Binchy’s hometown. Snell continued to live in that home following Binchy’s death.
As a scriptwriter for television, he was known for writing episodes for the popular RTÉ children’s programme Wanderly Wagon.
In an interview on The Late Late Show in 2018, Snell reflected on his relationship with Binchy and why they always dedicated their books to one another.
Gordon Snell has died at the age of 93. Photo: Steve Humphreys
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Wednesday, April 29
“We were lucky enough to both be publishing books, so we dedicated them to each other, which was all of them,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic thing to be able to do, and when we had a publication there was a great ceremony. We always made great celebrations for everything, and we’d give each other the book and there was the dedication, tearful embraces, and it was a great occasion.”
Ryan Tubridy then read out the dedication Binchy wrote for Snell in her 2004 novel, Nights of Rain and Stars: “For dear, good Gordon, who has been such a supportive and kind person that nobody would believe it if I were to write him into a book. Thank you with all of my heart.”
In the interview, Snell revealed that he stopped including dedications in his books following Binchy’s death in 2012.
“I haven’t dedicated them to anybody, because you couldn’t follow that. There isn’t any replacement, or any possibility of anybody else being the dedicatee as we used to call it,” he said.
Alan Hayes, publisher and editor at Irish publisher Arlen House, shared a tribute to Snell on X: “RIP Gordon Snell, a great writer and a charming man. It was an honour to work with him.
“Maeve told me she felt she was the luckiest woman in the world when she met Gordon, she also said she was the oldest bride in the world, marrying at 38.”
Staff at Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre, the hosts of Echoes, the annual Maeve Binchy Literary Festival, paid tribute to Snell.
“To dear, good Gordon, with love and thanks,” a statement read.
“It is with the deepest sadness that we mourn the passing of Gordon Snell, author, broadcaster and Maeve’s beloved husband of over 35 years.
“The manager and staff of Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre would like to extend their sympathies to the Binchy and Dromgoole families, and Gordon’s many friends.
“He was working as a freelance broadcaster and producer for the BBC when he met Maeve in London in 1970. They married in 1977.
“They spent their very happily married lives together writing heartfelt dedications to each other in their books & entertaining each other with stories. Our consolation is that they are reunited together now in love and laughter.
“Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.”