Philip Turner (writer) facts for kids

Philip William Turner (born December 3, 1925 – died January 7, 2006) was an English writer. He is most famous for his children's books set in a made-up town called Darnley Mills, which he wrote between 1964 and 1977. He also wrote mystery books for young adults under the pen name Stephen Chance, featuring a character named Reverend Septimus Treloar.

In 1965, Philip Turner won the prestigious Carnegie Medal for his book The Grange at High Force. This award is given by the Library Association to the best children's book written by a British subject that year.

About Philip William Turner

His Early Life and Career

Philip Turner was born in Rossland, British Columbia, Canada, on December 3, 1925. His parents were English, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. He was brought to England in 1926 when he was just a baby.

He went to school at Hinckley Grammar School in Leicestershire. During his school holidays, he loved exploring the East Anglian fens, which are marshy areas, while staying with his grandparents.

From 1943 to 1946, he served in the military during World War II as a Sub-Lieutenant Mechanical Engineer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. After the war, he continued his education at Worcester College, Oxford, and graduated in 1949. In 1950, he married Margaret Diana Samson, and they had two sons and a daughter.

Becoming a Writer

Philip Turner trained to become a priest at Ripon Hall. He became a deacon in 1951 and a priest in 1952, serving in churches in places like Armley, Crawley, and Northampton. Later, in the late 1960s, he became the Head of Religious Broadcasting for the Midland Region. He also worked as a teacher at Droitwich Spa High School, a chaplain at Eton College, and a part-time teacher at Malvern College, Worcestershire.

He started writing religious stories in the mid-1950s. His first children's novel, Colonel Sheperton's Clock, was published in 1964. This book was set in the made-up town of Darnley Mills in North East England. It was a mystery story about a schoolboy and also told the story of a boy's surgery to fix his leg. He wrote four more books about the three main characters from this first book. He also wrote four other books that explored the history of Darnley Mills from the 1800s up to World War II.

Philip Turner also wrote several books for young adults using the name Stephen Chance. The first book in his Septimus series, The Danedyke Mystery (1971), was even made into a television show in 1979.

Philip and Margaret lived in West Malvern for 30 years. Philip Turner passed away there from cancer in January 2006, at the age of 80. He is buried at St. Mathias Church in Malvern Link.

His Books

Septimus Treloar Mysteries (as Stephen Chance)

These are detective stories written under his pen name, Stephen Chance.

• Septimus and the Danedyke Mystery (1971)
• Septimus and the Minster Ghost (1972)
• Septimus and the Stone of Offering (1976)
• Septimus and the Spy Ring (1979)

Other Books

• Christ in the Concrete City (1956) — a play
• Cry Dawn in Dark Babylon (1959) — a dramatic story
• Tell it with Trumpets: Three experiments in drama and evangelism (1959)
• Casey: A dramatic meditation on the Passion (1962)
• The Christmas Story: A carol service for children (1964)
• Colonel Sheperton's Clock (1964); also called The Mystery of the Colonel's Clock in the U.S.
• Peter Was His Nickname (1965) — about the apostle Saint Peter
• The Grange at High Force (1965); also called The Adventure at High Force in the U.S.
• Sea Peril (1966)
• Steam on the Line (1968)
• War on the Darnel (1969)
• Wigwig and Homer (1969) — for younger children
• Devil's Nob (1970)
• Powder Quay (1971)
• Dunkirk Summer (1973)
• Skull Island (1977)
• Rookoo and Bree (1979) — for younger children
• Decision in the Dark: Tales of Mystery (1978)
• The Good Shepherd (1986)
• Three One-Act Plays (1987) — includes one play by Turner
• The Bible Story (1987) — 48 stories retold for young children
• The Candlemass Treasure (1988)

The books marked with (‡) below are part of the Darnley Mills series, which he wrote from 1964 to 1977.

• Colonel Sheperton's Clock (1964) ‡
• The Grange at High Force (1965) ‡
• Sea Peril (1966) ‡
• Steam on the Line (1968) ‡
• War on the Darnel (1969) ‡
• Devil's Nob (1970) ‡
• Powder Quay (1971) ‡
• Dunkirk Summer (1973) ‡
• Skull Island (1977) ‡