Born in Ballyhaunis, Ireland. In 1914 his family moved to Bolton, England. He was a prolific author and playwright with a number of hits on stage, screen, radio and TV. A great deal of his work was based on his growing up in Bolton in the 1920s. He adapted two of his plays to the screen: ALFIE (1966) and THE FAMILY WAY (1966, from Honeymoon Deferred). He also wrote the screenplays for DAY OF REST and SPRING AND PORT WINE (both 1970).  Nominated for Writing (Best Story and Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1966: ALFIE 1 nomination