PERCY Westerman, Britain’s most popular children’s writer of the 1930s, is being celebrated in Wareham, the town he chose to put down roots and spend the rest of his life.
This man was no lightweight writer, and during a 50-year writing career he wrote more than 170 titles in his signature Ripping Yarns style tales of derring-do. He wrote from his houseboat home, moored at Redclyffe, on the River Frome.
On Friday there will be a free showing of the exhibition Ripping Yarns and the Tale of the Forgotten Author in Wareham Corn Exchange.
The exhibition is presented by The Westerman Yarns, an organisation dedicated to researching and promoting the work of this prolific author. Doors will open at noon with an official opening at 12.30pm by Wareham Town Mayor, Coun Malcolm Russell.
In addition to the exhibition visitors will also see a selection of books from across his five decades or writing for children from the Westerman Yarns Collection and material from the University of Worcester Research Collections.
There will also be a rare chance to see Percy’s writing chair and the publisher’s typescript of an unpublished book entitled At Their Country’s Call, both items on loan for the day from private collections.
More details from the Discover Purbeck Information Centre, South Street, Wareham on 01929 552740.
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