The next meeting of Bishop Auckland Civic Society will take place on Monday, 3rd June at 7.30pm in Bishop Auckland Town Hall, when acclaimed theatre, radio, television and non-fiction writer, Michael Chaplin, will address the Society in a talk entitled My father, Sid Chaplin.
The son of a miner, Shildon-born Sid Chaplin (1916-1986) began work at Dean and Chapter Colliery at Ferryhill.
In 1946 he won the Atlantic Award for Literature for short stories collection, The Leaping Lad and in 1950 began writing full time for the National Coal Board magazine, Coal.
The author of seven critically acclaimed novels, four books of short stories and two books of essays, his stories inspired Alan Plater’s iconic stage musical Close the Coalhouse Door.
He was a co-founder of Northern Arts and contributed to the TV series When the Boat Comes In.
He has been credited as influencing the kitchen sink social realism of writers such as Alan Sillitoe and Stan Barstow and was awarded an OBE in 1977 for services to the arts in the North East.
The talk is free to members and £2 on the door for visitors.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
