Fred Alston: I Am a Life Member

The Lancashire Authors’ Association commemorates historical literary content embedded with core traditions and dialect from Lancashire since 1909. The LAA collection compliments historical records of literature and literary culture which was established in 1921 in Horwich. Upon researching through the historical archives in the University of Bolton library, a cardboard box was discovered, donated to the LAA in 1975. The box contains manuscripts of personal selections of poetry, an unpublished novel Loving Lancashire – Bustles to Mini-skirt, as well as a collection of stories by Fred Alston.  

Residing in Bury, Alston was a life-member of the Lancashire Authors’ Association and in 1975, according to the librarian notes, Fred relinquished his writing for painting, which was not really supported by his editor. The annotations on the diary indicate that Alston’s remarkable writing received great acknowledgement by a public audience. He recorded poetry and recitation for Radio Blackburn and donated two cassettes to the LAA in 1978. Alston was actively involved in a six–week series of personal readings for Radio Blackburn, and two other scripted conversations ready to be broadcast in 1977. He would happily deliver these readings to the Association.  

One of his diaries contains a photograph, which includes the note, “HOLLAND TILBURG 1953”. What happened in 1953? And why would it be indicated like this? Through my research it is evident that a massive flood hit the Netherlands “during the weekend of Saturday 31 January to Sunday 1 February 1953” (Gerritsen, 2005, p.1271). This shows that Alston was informed and reflective in his writing.  

Alston’s writings and interests were varied. Below I have transcribed one of his poems, ‘Florence Nightingale’ (1970), written in Bury General Hospital upon his first investigative visit which was framed for the matron. It was conserved in her office, and subsequently, a copy was sent to the Florence Nightingale Hospital, London.