A LEADING author has called on Scotland to recognise the talent and triumphs of one of its most famous sons.
On the 115th anniversary of the birth of writer A.J.Cronin his biographer told URTV Helensburgh that it was time his home town of Cardross in West Dunbartonshire recognised the world-wide success of the creator of Dr Finlay’s Casebook and numerous other works.
Cronin, who was born in Cardross on July 19, 1896 and brought up in around Helensburgh, wrote some of the best loved novels of the 20th century
In an exclusive interview with URTV Helensburgh, recognised as the UK’s first hyper-local daily internet television news channel, biographer, Alan Davies, called on the local authority to make more of the famous writer’s links to the area.
“It is difficult to understand why Cronin has been overlooked so much in Scotland. There is nothing about Cronin at all in his home town,” said the Shropshire-based author, whose book, ‘A.J Cronin – The Man Who Created Dr Finlay’, was published by Alma Books in June.
“Millions of viewers watched Dr Finlay’s Casebook so he is hardly unknown.
“Two years ago I contacted Dumbarton Council to try and rectify the situation and although they haven’t actually closed the issue nothing seems to be happening,” added Mr Davies who said that even a couple of signposts at the entrance to the Clyde-side village – saying ‘Cardross – Birthplace of AJ Cronin’ – would be an inexpensive but worthy tribute.
“I believe that it needs to be done,” he said, urging fans of Cronin and local residents to support some form of official recognition of his links with Cardross, Helensburgh and Dunbartonshire.
Archibald Joseph Cronin, who died in 1981, was a doctor who turned to writing aged 44 in 1930.
He produced several best sellers which were translated into numerous langauges, including Hatter’s Castle, The Stars Look Down, The Citadel, The Keys of the Kingdom and The Green Years.
However, it was a series of stories which formed the basis of the highly popular BBC television show Dr Finlay’s Casebook, which ran for 178 episodes between 1962 and 1971, that brought him to the attention of many more millions of people around the world.
ENDS
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