'A WRITER'S Shropshire" was the title of Gordon Dickens' talk at the Wyre Forest and District Centre January meeting in Blakedown parish room.

Mr Dickens, a librarian, was born in Coalport, and has had a longstanding interest in Shropshire writers and the influence of landscape on their work.

Charles Dickens regularly visited Shropshire, staying at Newport, and it is thought that Little Nell and Miss Havisham were inspired by local characters.

Many other writers were associated with Shropshire, such as EM Forster, Sir Walter Scott, John Osborne, Henry James, AE Housman, PG Wodehouse, Wilfred Owen and Charles Darwin.

Mark Twain stayed at Condover Hall and Benjamin Disraeli was MP for Shrewsbury from 1841 until 1847. William Shakespeare made references to events and traditions in Shropshire, and Philip Larkin was Wellington's librarian from 1943 until 1947.

Francis Moore produced his "Old Moore's Almanac" in Bridgnorth.

For details of this group telephone secretary Marjorie Fernihough on 01562 883460.