A FUND to raise cash for a statue of Nottingham writer Alan Sillitoe has been launched.
Nottingham Writers' Club wants to raise �50,000 within two years to create a statue in honour of the writer who achieved literary fame with his first novel Saturday Night Sunday Morning in the 1950s.
"Alan was always a modest man and was certainly aware of how important Nottingham was to him," said his son, David Sillitoe, 49, of West Bridgford.
"Much of his work was directly influenced by his childhood in Nottingham, and it remained a strong theme through much of his writing. It's difficult to know exactly what he'd have made of the statue idea, but when he was granted the Freedom of the City in 2008, I know that he felt tremendously honoured and very proud.
"Raising this money for the statue fund is really worthwhile, and we hope that Nottingham will take the idea to its heart."
To raise some of the cash, the writers' club, which Sillitoe was a member of in the 1950s, has organised a short story competition. Aspiring writers will be asked to write about what Arthur Seaton – a character in Saturday Night Sunday Morning – would be like in 2011. This will be judged by Sillitoe's son as well as Nottingham author Nicola Monaghan.
Keri Usherwood, chairman of the statue fund, said: "Alan Sillitoe is one of the great things about Nottingham. From humble beginnings he became a man whose work is known around the world and continues to put Nottingham on the map. He always had high regard for the city of his birth and he's someone we should be very proud of.
"That's why we're keen to give him the recognition he deserves by commissioning a statue in his honour which we also hope will act as an inspiration for the community of his birth."
Mr Sillitoe grew up in Radford and died in April 2010 at the age of 82.
He wrote throughout his life and a lot of his work portrayed the working class in post war Britain.
He was given honorary degrees by both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.
James Walker, Literature Editor of LeftLion and Board member of the Nottingham Writers' Studio, added: "It is important Alan is remembered, particularly in these tough times, because his characters have faith in their own ability and recognise that authority is something earned, rather than a given."
It is hoped the statue will be commissioned in 2012 and inaugurated in 2013 but it has not yet been decided where it will be built.
Winners of the short story competition will be announced at an event being held as part of Lowdham Book Festival on June 25. This will feature displays of memorabilia, books and photos of Alan.
The story competition costs �3 to enter and pieces must not be more than 1,200 words long. Entrants could win �100 for first prize, �50 for second and �25 for third.
Entries should be sent to The Competition Secretary, 38 Harrow Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7DU. Make cheques payable to Writing East Midlands. The closing date is April 25.
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