A former regional newspaper editor has had his first book published telling the extraordinary life of a well-known children’s author.

Colin Davison, left, who was editor of a number of titles before becoming group editorial executive for Northcliffe Media, has written a book about Ursula Moray Williams, who had more than 70 children’s books published.

His book, called ‘Through the Magic Door: Ursula Moray Williams, Gobbolino and the Little Wooden Horse’, came about after he developed an interest in the author after he and his wife Maggie read some of her classic stories to their children.

Colin, who has now retired, started out as a journalist at the Yorkshire Evening Post then later became editor of the Lincolnshire Chronicle, Lincolnshire Echo, Western Morning News and North Devon Journal before taking on senior management roles.

He said: “When my wife Maggie and I read some of Ursula’s classic stories, including Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat and Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse to our children, they were captivated.

“Later I wondered about the personality of their author, and discovered that her sometimes difficult life was as extraordinary and inspirational as those of her brave, fictional characters. I could not believe that her own fascinating story had not been told before.

“She wrote nearly 70 books for children, organised riotous parties for the Puffin Club, and became a champion of children from troubled upbringings.

“Her kindness was exemplified by many spontaneous gestures – giving all the proceeds of one book to charity, and always making posies of flowers for visits to London, which she gave to the women working in the ladies’ lavatories at Paddington station.”

Colin’s book is published by Northumbria Press and is widely available from bookshops.