William Graham Stanton
Encyclopedia
William Graham "Bill" Stanton (18 August 1917 - 6 December 1999) was a British author and radio playwright.
, the seventh of eight children of John Stanton (a blacksmith
) and his wife. His upbringing was in a working class Methodist tradition. His later writings about his experiences as a child described an upbringing rich in love, event and interest.
Stanton's brothers, George and Arthur, were sent to Sheffield University. The depression
of the 1930s denied Stanton's family the means to help him through university, and instead Stanton had to settle for sponsorship from the Sheffield Education Committee to train to be a teacher. Shortly after he qualified in 1939, war was declared and Stanton volunteered for the Army
. During the war, he met and married Dorothy Walton from Millhouses
, and after the war they ran a private school together. Starting in 1954, he worked for the Vickers
-owned English Steel Corporation as a sales representative. When he retired in 1980, it was as Area Marketing Manager for British Steel
in Leeds
. Throughout his life, Stanton wrote both prose and verse, most of which was unpublished.
on their Morning Story series. It was the first of a series of twenty-one stories presented by the BBC throughout the sixties and early seventies.
In 1969 he had his first radio play success. The Compost Heap, a play about an old man who had become a burden to his family, was the first of a prodigious output of radio plays. The BBC
produced and broadcast ten of Stanton's plays in 1971, more than any other author for that year. Stanton was delighted that they got Wilfred Pickles
to play the principal character Albert Smith. He met Wilfred and they became firm friends,. A young Tony Robinson
also appeared in the play as the son-in-law Charlie.
Other plays were critically acclaimed. Milgrip's Progress was reviewed in the Listener, and by Gillian Reynolds in the Guardian,. Twelve Tuesdays to Christmas was reviewed in the Listener
In 1977, Stanton's first book Treason For My Daily Bread
was published. This was a fictional work around the assassination of John F. Kennedy
based on a manuscript which was supposed to be written by a fictional character, Mikhail Mikhailovich Lebedev
. Although it failed to sell in any number it became mistaken as a reliable source into the assassination by a number of researchers & . Stanton also wrote two unpublished books, Fallout in Arden and Moss, a semiautobiographical work.
, Durham
, and another was the "Writer's Tutorial." He compiled much of his thinking on writing in a writers manual, published privately by Writers Tutorial, Write Through Rewrite. This was later revised and published as "Making Things Clear."
to read English and American Literature. This gave him the opportunity to study Shakespeare properly. While at York he translated the Middle English
poem Pearl
for his long assignment. When he graduated in June 1996 with a two one at the age of 79, he was University of York
's oldest graduate ever.
Stanton fell ill on 6 December 1999, and was taken to York District Hospital, where he died.
Early life
William Graham Stanton was born in Brightside, SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, the seventh of eight children of John Stanton (a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
) and his wife. His upbringing was in a working class Methodist tradition. His later writings about his experiences as a child described an upbringing rich in love, event and interest.
Stanton's brothers, George and Arthur, were sent to Sheffield University. The depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
of the 1930s denied Stanton's family the means to help him through university, and instead Stanton had to settle for sponsorship from the Sheffield Education Committee to train to be a teacher. Shortly after he qualified in 1939, war was declared and Stanton volunteered for the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. During the war, he met and married Dorothy Walton from Millhouses
Millhouses
Millhouses is a neighbourhood in the City of Sheffield, England. It is located in Ecclesall ward; in the south-western portion of the city on the northwest bank of the River Sheaf. Its origins lie in a small hamlet that grew around the Ecclesall Corn Mill...
, and after the war they ran a private school together. Starting in 1954, he worked for the Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
-owned English Steel Corporation as a sales representative. When he retired in 1980, it was as Area Marketing Manager for British Steel
British Steel
British Steel was a major British steel producer. It originated as a nationalised industry, the British Steel Corporation , formed in 1967. This was converted to a public limited company, British Steel PLC, and privatised in 1988. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. Throughout his life, Stanton wrote both prose and verse, most of which was unpublished.
Writing career
In 1961, Stanton had a short story, It was never Albert, published by BBC RadioBBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
on their Morning Story series. It was the first of a series of twenty-one stories presented by the BBC throughout the sixties and early seventies.
In 1969 he had his first radio play success. The Compost Heap, a play about an old man who had become a burden to his family, was the first of a prodigious output of radio plays. The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
produced and broadcast ten of Stanton's plays in 1971, more than any other author for that year. Stanton was delighted that they got Wilfred Pickles
Wilfred Pickles
Wilfred Pickles OBE was an English actor and radio presenter.Born in Halifax in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Pickles was a proud Yorkshireman, and having been selected by the BBC as an announcer for its North Regional radio service, went on to be an occasional newsreader on the BBC Home Service...
to play the principal character Albert Smith. He met Wilfred and they became firm friends,. A young Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
also appeared in the play as the son-in-law Charlie.
Other plays were critically acclaimed. Milgrip's Progress was reviewed in the Listener, and by Gillian Reynolds in the Guardian,. Twelve Tuesdays to Christmas was reviewed in the Listener
In 1977, Stanton's first book Treason For My Daily Bread
Treason For My Daily Bread
Treason for My Daily Bread is a spy thriller written by William Graham Stanton about a man named Mikhail Mikhailovich Lebedev, who became involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.- Background :...
was published. This was a fictional work around the assassination of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
based on a manuscript which was supposed to be written by a fictional character, Mikhail Mikhailovich Lebedev
Mikhail Mikhailovich Lebedev
Mikhail Mikhailovich Lebedev is a fictional character created by William Graham Stanton, in a thriller novel “Treason For My Daily Bread”.The book purports to be Lebedev’s account of his life and dealings within the world of international espionage and crime, and climaxes with his involvement in...
. Although it failed to sell in any number it became mistaken as a reliable source into the assassination by a number of researchers & . Stanton also wrote two unpublished books, Fallout in Arden and Moss, a semiautobiographical work.
Teaching and Lecturing
After his successes, Stanton was invited to lecture at weekend courses for aspiring writers. As a teacher, Stanton wanted to inspire rather than instruct. He placed a great emphasis on doing rather than talking. He arranged "workshops" rather than "courses," and out of this came a number of projects. One was the "Workshop 74" at St. Mary's CollegeSt Mary's College, Durham
St Mary's College is a college of the University of Durham in England. Following the grant of a supplemental charter in 1895 allowing women to receive degrees of the university, St Mary's was founded as the Women's Hostel in 1899, adopting its present name in May 1920...
, Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, and another was the "Writer's Tutorial." He compiled much of his thinking on writing in a writers manual, published privately by Writers Tutorial, Write Through Rewrite. This was later revised and published as "Making Things Clear."
Later life and death
In 1992, Stanton enrolled at the University of YorkUniversity of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
to read English and American Literature. This gave him the opportunity to study Shakespeare properly. While at York he translated the Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
poem Pearl
Pearl (poem)
Pearl is a Middle English alliterative poem written in the late 14th century. Its unknown author, designated the "Pearl poet" or "Gawain poet", is generally assumed, on the basis of dialect and stylistic evidence, to be the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Patience, and Cleanness or...
for his long assignment. When he graduated in June 1996 with a two one at the age of 79, he was University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
's oldest graduate ever.
Stanton fell ill on 6 December 1999, and was taken to York District Hospital, where he died.