Ion Trewin diagnosed with cancer

Ion Trewin, literary director of the Booker Prize Foundation, has been diagnosed with untreatable cancer, it has been announced.

Trewin was unable to attend the Man Booker Prize ceremony this week. According to a statement released on behalf of the Booker Prize Foundation, Trewin had been undergoing tests in hospital prior to the diagnosis. Trewin will continue in his role at the Booker Prize Foundation until he is unable to do so.

A statement issued by PR firm Four Colman Getty on behalf of The Booker Prize Foundation, read:

For the past week Ion has been undergoing tests in hospital. He has been diagnosed with untreatable cancer and will be receiving palliative care as and when necessary. For the moment he will continue with his responsibilities until such time as this is not possible.

Jonathan Taylor, chair of the Booker Prize Foundation, comments: “We are very shocked and saddened by Ion’s news and ask that the privacy of his family be respected during this difficult time.”

No further comment will be made.

Trewin chaired the judging panel in 1974, and became a member of the Booker (now Man Booker) Prize Advisory Committee In 1989. He succeeded Martyn Goff as administrator (now literary director) of the Booker Prize Foundation in 2006. He also organises the annual 'Cheltenham Booker Prize' at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, which he chaired 1996-2007, and has judged The Bookseller-run Book Industry Awards for a number of years. Before that, he worked at Weidenfeld & Nicolson, where he was publishing director, managing director and editor-in-chief until his retirement in 2006.

Trewin is held in great affection throughout the business.