Dossier 28 - Harry Griffin

1 minidisc, 1 cd, 1 file, 2 AIFF files (792.9 MB)

Interview with Harry Griffin, Country Diary writer for the Guardian. Conducted by Martin Wainwright on 12 February 2002. Also includes notes made after the interview by Martin Wainwright.

Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):

Disc 1:
Track 1
00.00 Worked for Daily Mail in Manchester from 1937, followed by service in world war two
03.19 Childhood and rock-climbing in Barrow-in-Furness

16:00 Early career at the Evening Post, read the Guardian for Neville Cardus' reviews of classical music

23.00 From 1946 to 1947 he wrote fortnightly column 'leaves from a lakeland diary' signed Dalesman
23.00 Several months later he had his own byline
24.00 Continued to write this column for 50 years, even after retiring
25:00 Discussions with AP Wadsworth about taking over George Muller's column after his death
25.00 Wadsworth's instruction for the column; 'write whatever you like but keep off birds'
26.00 First article appeared Monday 5 January 1951 and every Monday since, never missed a deadline

30.00 Martin Wainwright reading his first article
32.00 Signing initials AHW for many years. In May 1971 started using names
34.00 Shared Lake District coverage with Enid Wilson
38.00 Copy always typed and sent by post
39.00 Receives many letters and replies to all, most favourable, only two inaccuracies in 51 years

42.15 When Jeannette Page was managing the diary he 'felt safe'
43.50 Working with Page
45.00 County diarists lunch in London
46.00 Alastair Hetherington, walking and rock climbing

Track 2
00.00 Paddy Monkhouse and writing the Miscellany column
04.00 Discusses the editors he has worked for and the 150th anniversary dinner

14.40 Now only reads the Guardian every other Monday
16.00 Changing times at the Guardian and difficulties for writers
19.50 Reads from the Country Diary, 11 January 2002

22.50 Reads from the Country Diary, 5 January 1951

Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository

Copyright: Guardian News & Media Ltd and Harry Griffin