Friday Folk

TOWN hall worker Paul Wilson is looking forward to seeing his words turned into celluloid following the latest success for his second career.

By day, Paul works for Blackburn with Darwen Council's community and leisure department.

But in his spare time he has penned three successful novels and is set to sign the film rights for his latest, Do White Whales Sing At The Edge Of The World?

Independent British film company First Hand Productions is poised to buy the rights and Paul, of Brownhill Road, Blackburn, is currently going through the fine print of the contract.

Paul said: "What happens is that the film company buys an option to produce the film. It's rare for a British company like this to buy the rights and then not make the film and that was one of the reasons for going with them."

The film deal is the second boost to Paul's literary career as he has just been awarded the Portico Prize for Literature, beating five other short-listed novels, including Melvyn Bragg's Credo. "I'm chuffed to bits about it," said the 37-year-old father-of-two.

Paul admitted to being disappointed that his critically-acclaimed novel was not short-listed for this year's Booker Prize - like Great Harwood-born Mick Jackson's first book, The Underground Man - but said that was the nature of literary prizes.

Paul's first book, The Fall From Grace Of Harry Angel, was published in 1994, followed two years later by Days Of Good Hope and, last year, by White Wales.

The latest novel tells the story of four institutionalised men who find meaning late in their lives by taking an imaginary journey to the edge of the earth.

Search for war pals

A LANCASHIRE woman is trying to trace her wartime friends.

Jennie Bennett was stationed at the NAAFI no.1 wing at Kirkham in the late 1930s and early 1940s but lost touch with those she worked with when she left.

She would love to hear from any of them. The names she can recall include Miss Cooper, Miss Campbell, Margery Sanderson, Madge Oliver, Annelise Rayle and Eileen Armistead.

At the time Mrs Bennett was known as Jennie Brown from Cumbria. Mrs Bennett can be contacted at 2 Bracewell Street, Brookfield, Preston.

Tailor retires after 44 years

TAILOR Keith Jones is looking forward to retirement after 44 years of looking after other people's clothes - so he can finally tidy his own wardrobe.

Keith was an indentured apprentice for a business in Ribbleton Lane, Preston, before working for the Co-op in Preston for two years.

He then opened his own business at Berry Lane, Longridge, later moving to new premises at Towneley Parade, Berry Lane.

Keith completed a course at the Tailor and Cuttery Academy in London.

When he first started he could make a suit for 13 guineas. Now they can cost more than £400.

He has made suits and uniforms for the Preston Guild, morris men, guardsmen and the first Mayor of the Ribble Valley, Coun Fred Singleton.

Although a local craftsman, his suits have been made for people all over Britain and other countries, including Germany and South Africa.

He has been so busy that he claims he has never managed to get round to tidying up his own clothes.

As well as tackling his wardrobe, he is planning to listen to his favourite music. He will spend some of his time helping out at the Centenary Theatre, St Mary's, Stonyhurst College, where his wife Mary is a keen actress.

Keith and Mary married in Longridge in 1958 and will celebrate their ruby wedding next year.

African wildlife puts illustrator in top flight

A BOOK illustrator from Blackburn is flying high following the publication of a special bird guide.

Tony Disley, 25, of Sunny Bower, worked for four years on Pica Press's Field Guide to the Birds of Gambia and Senegal.

The former pupil of Shadsworth High School visited Africa four times during his research and is on his way back shortly for a book launch.

The publishers are so pleased with his work that they have offered him a further commission, illustrating a book on the birds of the Seychelles.

The freelance artist, who also paints portraits of cats and dogs, said he was very pleased with the book.

"Pica Press is one of biggest publishers of natural history books in Britain and the Gambia guide has turned out really well," he said.

Tony studied scientific illustration at Blackpool and Fylde College and works mainly with watercolour and gouache. He worked on the project with illustrator Clive Barlow, who has lived in the Gambia since 1985, and is a former pupil of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn.

Germany comrade calling

DID you serve at RAF Uetersen near Hamburg, Germany, between 1950 and 1955?

Then Neil Wharmby wants to hear from you.

Mr Wharmby is a member of a newly-formed organisation for ex-RAF Uetersen personnel, which currently has around 80 members.

No ex-comrades from East Lancashire have yet been traced but Mr Wharmby is confident there are some out there.

Anyone interested in the group should ring Mr Wharmby on 01706 359430 (daytime) or 01706 665698 (evenings and weekends).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.