This is a thread on a very underrated man
A man who wrote on cricket, wrote on British comedy and many other topics.
A former president of @ACScricket
Co-founder of the University of the Third Age
And did a lot of great work for the elderly and the disabled people.
Eric Midwinter

Wartime.
Son of a fireman in Manchester.
The fireman was involved in the dreadful bombing and fires at the Tate & Lyle syrup factory, when they were up to their waists in treacle.
Those were his formative years.
When the war ended, he was 13.

Already allowed to join the senior library because he had finished everything present in the junior library.
He immediately found himself focused on George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells.
They influenced him all life.

Once he moved to London in 1975, his interest in cricket and British comedy intensified.
Then, a couple of years later, he was commissioned to do a book which was called ‘Make ‘em Laugh; Famous Comedians and their Worlds’ – he did this with the help of a well-known editor.

John Bright-Holmes.
Bright-Holmes shared his love of cricket and had by then published an excellent anthology called 'Joy of Cricket'.
Midwinter thought of doing a book on Victorian cricket but Bright-Holmes suggested him to do a biography of W.G. Grace.

By locating him as an historical character and not merely a cricketer.
John Arlott, writing the book reviews for Wisden, was highly impressed.

Eric Midwinter has written over 50 books.
He still writes a bit everyday.
And has now read each of Dickens' work at least a dozen times.
When the world opts to focus on class conflicts, he tries his best to highlight class peace.

In 2015, Jeremy Hardie wrote a book on his life.
He initially decided to name it "Eric Midwinter: You Name it; He's Done It".
He indeed has.

Cricket, football, literature, history, politics, cinema, theater,......
The list is never-ending.
And on top of everything, a witty and charming man.
Eric Midwinter was born #OnThisDay in 1932.