A year ago Heaton History Group launched with a packed to the rafters talk by TV historian John Grundy. It set the tone for a great first year. We’re, therefore, delighted that John will be launching our 2014-5 programme too.
His topic will be ‘The North East in Literature’. The talk will take place on Wednesday 30 April at The Corner House in Heaton BUT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED. Contact maria@heatonhistorygroup.org / 0191 215 0821 / 07763 985656 to be added to the reserve list.
John Grundy
Having worked for English Heritage in the 1980s John is probably most well known for the TV shows Grundy’s Wonders and Grundy’s Northern Pride. John also contributed to the 2nd edition of Nikolaus Pevsner’s Northumberland and has been extolling the virtues of the North’s heritage for many years.
The North East in literature
The content of John’s talk remains a closely-guarded secret but it’s an excuse to mention a couple of Heaton’s literary claims to fame:
Writer Jack Common was born on 15 August 1903 at 44 Third Avenue and attended Chillingham Road School. He is perhaps best remembered for his autobiographical novel, Kiddar’s Luck, which describes growing up in Edwardian Tyneside.
More recently, author David Almond, perhaps best known for his children’s book ‘Skellig‘, used to live on Westwood Avenue and Heaton features in a number of his works.
Tell us about other literary connections you know of (You can click on the ‘Leave a reply’ link just below the title of this article or email chris.jackson@heatonhistorygroup.org)
I must mention my friend, the poet Keith Armstrong, born and raised in Danby Gardens.