Jack Wilson (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John "Jack" Aiken Wilson
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Jack Wilson in 1960
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| Born | 2 October 1937 Ballyrobert, Craigavad, Co Down, Northern Ireland
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| Died | 15 December 1997 (aged 60) |
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| Spouse(s) | Vera Wilson (married 1963) |
| Children | 1 |
John "Jack" Aiken Wilson (born October 2, 1937 – died December 15, 1997) was a writer from Northern Ireland. He was also a very good amateur boxer. In the late 1960s, he became a well-known literary figure in Ireland.
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Jack Wilson's Early Life
Jack Wilson was born in Ballyrobert, Craigavad, County Down. His parents were James and Eileen Wilson. He had four brothers and one sister. When he was eleven, Jack became very sick with a type of tuberculosis that affected his stomach.
Because he couldn't join lessons with other kids, his teacher, Mr. Cameron, gave him books to read. Jack quickly grew to love stories by authors like Robert Louis Stevenson and James Fenimore Cooper. After being in bed for almost a year, Jack got better. However, the illness affected his body and confidence for the rest of his life.
In 1948, Jack's father passed away. His family then moved to Newry, and later settled in Comber until the late 1950s.
Jack Wilson's Boxing Career
Living in the countryside, Jack wanted to make his body stronger. He worked on farms and in fields near Scrabo Tower. This area is very beautiful and later gave him ideas for his first book, The Wild Summer.
When he was a teenager, Jack's mother asked him to check on his younger brother, Maurice, who had joined a boxing club. Jack went to the club and ended up joining it himself! It was called the Crown Club.
Over the next few years, both Jack and Maurice became known as very good amateur boxers. Jack fought as a flyweight, which is a lighter weight class. Maurice was a welterweight. Even though his illness had affected his body, Jack had long arms, a strong jaw, and could punch hard. This helped him get a fight for the Ulster (Junior) Flyweight Championship in 1960.
Jack fought Brian Wright, who was the favorite to win. The first round was tough for Jack. But his trainer told him, "he's shown you what he can do, so now you show him what you can do." Jack then hit hard in the second round, and the fight ended early with a knockout. During his time as an amateur boxer, Jack may have won 32 out of 35 fights. He had one controversial disqualification in a fight for the Irish Flyweight title.
Jack Wilson's Writing Career
Jack was a successful amateur boxer and even turned down chances to become a professional. But his love for reading as a child grew into a desire to write his own stories. Between fights, Jack would buy books to learn how to write. He learned a lot from famous authors like William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway.
In 1962, he sent his first book, The Wild Summer, to a publisher. This book was a story about growing up, based on his experiences working in County Down. The next year, the book was published. He then wrote more books: Adam Grey in 1964, The Tomorrow Country in 1967, and Dark Eden in 1969.
Adam Grey was his most popular book. There were even talks about famous actors like Julie Christie and Adam Faith playing the main roles in a movie version. However, the movie company ran into money problems, so the film was never made. Instead, Corgi Books released Adam Grey as a paperback, but they changed the title to The Nightcomer.
Throughout his writing life, Jack also wrote articles for local newspapers. His radio plays were broadcast by the BBC. He was also the chairman of the Irish PEN, which is an organization for Poets, Essayists, and Novelists.
The Wild Summer was published again in 2001 by Lagan Press.
Jack Wilson's Personal Life
Jack Wilson married Vera Munn on October 2, 1963. They had one child together. Jack was a big fan of Manchester United Football Club. He also continued to follow boxing.
In 1997, he passed away from a serious infection. This happened because his immune system was weakened after being treated for an illness. He is survived by his wife and son.
