F.T. Unwin

I'm sure at least one or two WAN*ers must have heard of him. Fred Unwin was - by all accounts - a pleasant old chap born in 1915 who wrote a number of semi-factual novels based on his life in Cambridge, most notably those featuring Pimbo and his girlfriend Jenny. He was a well-known figure for many years as he went door-to-door selling his stories (many were self-published) from an old shopping trolley. I believe he died a few years ago, but there seems to be little information online.
I'm wondering if anyone has any idea of how many books he produced as we've begun collecting them and currently have eight. I think he wrote around 20 - if anyone knows what they were all called, that'd be handy. Any other information would be welcome too.

I wouldn't normally recommend using it - but if you were to post this query on the CEN messageboard, I would be surprised if you weren't deluged with answers within 24 hours.

The subject has already done the rounds on there - it pretty much descended into a slanging match within a few replies after an arguement over whether or not he'd dead and if not, which old folks' home he's in; along with plenty of one-upmanship over who had the best memories of Ye Olde Cambridge Town.

Ha! Perhaps I should have known better! Why noy try the Cambridgeshire Collection or the Folk Museum or that Allan Brigham bloke who knows local history?

Hmm, the Folk Museum's a good idea - any excuse to visit a museum! I don't know of Allan Brigham, but I'll look him up. Thanks!

By the good Lord Harry, John Techno back on WAN eh.There goes the neighbourhood.
Did that Unwin fellow write his own language or was that someone different..

Stanley!!

Diddleydido

I bought few from him when he came a-knocking but I just couldn't get on with them. I'm currently culling my books so when Pimbo emerges from the murk you can have em. I've only one or two, however.

He had some great memories but sadly couldn't write. If he'd had a proper editor he might have been on to summat.

Isn't it amazing that Stanley Unwins built a whole career around...not very much?

Aw, my sister had pretty much all of his books. They really were awful - in a really lovely way.

He was, undoubtedly, an awful writer - which is all part of his naive charm I think. DeFrev, I'll happily take them off your hands and will be pleased to buy you a pint in return.

Bigmal - I've been lurking, following a few threads here and there but avoiding involvement for various reasons. Hope the old Enfield's feeling better!

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?an=f.t.+unwin&bt.x=0&b...

There's a few on here. I did have a few of them, and agree they'd been great with a good editor. Shame as they had a few bits in about Petersfield/Abbey and a bit on Silverwood Close. Sadly I think I donated them to charity shop ages ago. Maybe Oxfam might be worth a look

i grew up with his grandson and my mum still lives next door to the family, i could probably get all the info you want

It is wrong to knock Fred Unwin just because he didn't write like a Booker winner. He was operating at another level, and as a result probably had a larger readership amongst local people than any better known author, and certainly amongst those who might not normally read books.

He innocently paid a vanity publisher to print his books in the belief that they would do the marketing too. When boxloads simply turned up on his doorstep ( and his bank account was emptied), and the bookshops showed little interest he wasn't dispirited but started walking round Cambridge and surrounding villages with a shopping trolley selling them door to door. He built up a list of regulars, brought great pleasure with his visits, and when he had made enough money from selling one book he would write another. He commands huge respect for that.

His novels provide one of the few accounts of 'town' rather than 'gown', and give a flavour of what it was like growing up off East Road in the 1930s, though it is a pity that he didn't just write them as straight autobiography. He has a lovely description of going to The Kinema on Mill Road to see pathe news in the days before TV - his only view of the world beyond Cambridge as a child. Different times.

You're quite right. I enjoy his books immensely.

"He innocently paid a vanity publisher to print his books in the belief that they would do the marketing too. When boxloads simply turned up on his doorstep ( and his bank account was emptied), and the bookshops showed little interest he wasn't dispirited but started walking round Cambridge and surrounding villages with a shopping trolley selling them door to door. "

I can see him making that mistake once and toting the excess stock around to houses etc but he seemed to either repeat the mistake, enjoy the process or see there was profit in it.

Unless, of course, later books were under his own imprint, which they might have been.

I don't want to knock the old lad but like I said earlier, a half decent editor could have pulled the books into shape and made them real gems.

I am Fred's great granddaughter he wrote 20 books and was the most loveliest man in the world he sadly passed away on 18th December 2014 aged 99

Jaz2400, sorry to hear about your great grandfather. It was generous of you to share your sad news with WAN, he was obviously well loved.

I am so sorry to hear about the death of your great grandad Jaz. I have his books and they are wonderful stories of an area and a man whom I wished I had the honour to meet, my condolences to you and all your family.