Biography

Ken Wilson was born in Barnoldswick, and lived there for nearly thirty years. His education at Emystead’s Grammer school was rounded off by working as a coalman for a year in the family business established by his grandfather P. D. Bilbrough. Ken was awarded a County Scholarship at Leeds School of Architecture but the war interrupted his studies. After three years army service he started his own business manufacturing tourist souvenirs.

This failed and he found employment as a building draftsmen, subsequently qualifying by his own studies as both an architect and town planner. His career in Local Government led to appointment as Deputy Borough Architect of the London Borough of Bromley.

He designed many buildings in the Midlands and London, including the sixteen storey Bromley Central Library and Churchill Theatre Complex, which was opened by Prince Charles in 1977. Boyhood interests in painting, writing and history have continued, resulting in one-man picture exhibitions in various parts of the country. His own researched and drawn historical displays have featured at several libraries and the Pendle Heritage Centre. The first of his hand written and illustrated books “My Days Are Swifter than a Weavers Shuttle” was published by Carrprint in 1980. Ken now lives in Orpington with wife Sheila and family and works full time as an author an artist

Please follow this link to begin reading the Wreck of the Rohilla.