Series to tell town history (From Penarth Times)

Series to tell town history

A LOCAL historian is set to bring out a series of new books on Penarth.

Phil Carradice, a well-established author and broadcaster, is close to completing Penarth The Story: Volume Two which is to be published next autumn.

This will be complemented by two further books on the history of Penarth.

One of those will focus on Penarth Docks and the other will look at the town's most important historic buildings.

Phil said: "Penarth the Story: Volume One, which sold very well indeed, was a broad history of the town.

"Volume two will concentrate more on the people who have been instrumental in shaping the town and interesting characters from the past.

"I am also working on a history of the Vale of Glamorgan for the publishing group Gomer."

Phil, a former headteacher of Headlands School, has written over 29 books including three novels.

He also presents the Past Master series on Sundays on BBC Radio Wales.

Phil's work for BBC Radio Wales has also included the Wales at War series and Coming Home which told the stories of people returning to south Wales in 1945/46 after World War II.

Phil's novels include Hannah goes to War and The Bosun's Secret.

He is currently working on a children's novel which he describes as a "Welsh Treasure Island".

Phil also spends time teaching creative writing in schools throughout the Vale of Glamorgan as well as at Cardiff University.

He said: "As part of the Welsh Academy of Literature's Writers on Tour programme, I take creative writing sessions in both primary and secondary schools.