William Graham Stanton
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William Graham "Bill" Stanton (1917-1999) was an author and radio playwright.
Early Life
Stanton was born in East Brightside, Sheffield, the seventh child of a blacksmith and his wife. Although means were tight his background was set within a working class Methodist tradition, and his experiences as a child, which he wrote about in later life, described an upbringing rich in love, event and interest.
His father John understood the importance of an education. He was an avid reader, and it rubbed off onto his children. The children worked hard at their studies, a difficult task when you share a small terraced house with seven other children. They used to get off the tram at Burngrieve Library where they would do their homework surrounded by books.
John Stanton sent his sons George and Arthur to Sheffield University, a phenomenal achievement at the time given his limited means. When it came to Bill's turn there was nothing left, and he had to settle for sponsorship from the Sheffield Education Committee to train to be a teacher. Although Bill was proud of his calling as a teacher he always knew he could have achieved far more academically. Through out his life Bill wrote both prose and verse, most of which was unpublished.
Writing Career
In 1960 Stanton had a short story published by BBC Radio 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. In all the BBC produced and broadcast ten plays. Stanton was delighted that they got Wilfred Pickles to play the principle 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.
Teaching and Lecturing
On the basis of this success and his experience Stanton was invited to lecture at weekend courses for aspiring writers. He developed a following of students who were impressed by what he had to offer, and the style in which he presented the material. As a teacher, Stanton wanted to inspire rather than instruct. He placed a great emphasis on doing rather than talking about doing. He arranged "workshops" rather than "courses," and out of this came a number of projects. One was the "Workshop 74" at St. Mary's College, Durham, and another was the "Writer's Tutorial."
Both these projects brought him in touch with a remarkable and talented collection of people who over the years have become firm friends. In this sense Bill never retired. When he died at the age of 82, he had one of his student's 'scripts' on his desk.
In 1992 Stanton was enrolled as a freshman at the University of York to read English and American Literature. He was delighted that after all this time he had the opportunity to study Shakespeare properly. He threw himself into his studies and received a well deserved two one.
When he graduated in June 1996 at the age of 79, he was University of York's oldest graduate.