Roger Hutchinson (writer)
Encyclopedia
Roger Hutchinson is a British
author and journalist. Born in the north of England, he worked on the London underground
magazine Oz
, acting as caretaker editor while the magazine's editors were on trial for obscenity in 1971. Hutchinson went on to edit International Times
, and then the listings magazine Time Out. In 1977 he joined the left-wing newspaper, the West Highland Free Press
, based on the Isle of Skye
, where he remains a columnist
. He has also served as editor of the Stornoway Gazette
.
Hutchinson has written 14 non-fiction books. Polly, The True Story Behind Whisky Galore (1990) was about the SS Politician
, the ship which was wrecked on the Outer Hebrides with a cargo of whisky which inspired the book and film Whisky Galore. He has a sister who lives in Cambridge with two children: Ben and Rosie Nelmes. It is to them that 'The Toon' is dedicated. His book on soap magnate Lord Leverhulme
, The Soap Man (2003), was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year Award
. Calum's Road (2006), about Raasay
crofter Calum MacLeod
who hand-built a road to his croft, was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature
's Ondaatje Prize
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author and journalist. Born in the north of England, he worked on the London underground
Underground press
The underground press were the independently published and distributed underground papers associated with the counterculture of the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and other western nations....
magazine Oz
Oz (magazine)
Oz was first published as a satirical humour magazine between 1963 and 1969 in Sydney, Australia and, in its second and better known incarnation, became a "psychedelic hippy" magazine from 1967 to 1973 in London...
, acting as caretaker editor while the magazine's editors were on trial for obscenity in 1971. Hutchinson went on to edit International Times
International Times
International Times was an underground newspaper founded in London in 1966. Editors included Hoppy, David Mairowitz, Pete Stansill, Barry Miles, Jim Haynes and playwright Tom McGrath...
, and then the listings magazine Time Out. In 1977 he joined the left-wing newspaper, the West Highland Free Press
West Highland Free Press
The West Highland Free Press was founded in the Scottish Highlands in 1972 as a left-wing weekly newspaper, but with the principal objective of providing its immediate circulation area with the service which a local paper is expected to provide...
, based on the Isle of Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
, where he remains a columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
. He has also served as editor of the Stornoway Gazette
Stornoway Gazette
The Stornoway Gazette is a local newspaper reporting on local issues in the Western Isles of Scotland, specifically Stornoway and the Outer Hebrides.- External links :* of the Stornoway Gazette...
.
Hutchinson has written 14 non-fiction books. Polly, The True Story Behind Whisky Galore (1990) was about the SS Politician
SS Politician
The SS Politician was an 8000-ton cargo ship owned by T & J Harrison of Liverpool. It left Liverpool on 3 February 1941, bound for Kingston, Jamaica and New Orleans with a cargo including 28,000 cases of malt whisky. The ship sank near the island of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides, off the west...
, the ship which was wrecked on the Outer Hebrides with a cargo of whisky which inspired the book and film Whisky Galore. He has a sister who lives in Cambridge with two children: Ben and Rosie Nelmes. It is to them that 'The Toon' is dedicated. His book on soap magnate Lord Leverhulme
William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme
William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme was an English industrialist, philanthropist, and politician....
, The Soap Man (2003), was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year Award
Saltire Awards
The Saltire Society awards the following literary awards:* Scottish Book of the Year* Scottish First Book of the Year* Scottish History Book of the Year* Scottish Research Book of the Year...
. Calum's Road (2006), about Raasay
Raasay
Raasay is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and from Applecross by the Inner Sound. It is most famous for being the birthplace of the poet Sorley MacLean, an important figure in the Scottish literary renaissance...
crofter Calum MacLeod
Calum MacLeod (of Raasay)
Malcolm MacLeod , BEM was a crofter who famously built Calum's Road on the Island of Raasay, Scotland. He was Local Assistant Keeper of Rona Lighthouse and the part-time postman for the north end of Raasay.-Early life:Calum was the son of Donald MacLeod of Arnish and Julia Gilles of Fladda...
who hand-built a road to his croft, was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
's Ondaatje Prize
Ondaatje Prize
The Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize is an annual literary award given by the Royal Society of Literature. The £10,000 award is given for a work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry which evokes the "spirit of a place", and which is written by someone who is a citizen of or who has been...
.