Photo: Martin Edwards
Peter N Walker has been given the John Creasey Award for his outstanding contribution to the Crime Writers' Association. He was presented with the award – a red herring mounted on a plinth – by CWA Chairman Philip Gooden at the September 2007 meeting of the Northern Chapter of the CWA.
Robert Richardson, the immediate past Chairman of the CWA explains: “What is now called the John Creasey award, named in memory of our founder, is given to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the Crime Writers' Association, and few recipients can have been more deserving than Peter Walker. To countless television viewers, he is known as Nicholas Rhea, author of the books that inspired the Heartbeat series; to those who know him, he is a warm, generous and amiable man it is a delight to claim as a friend.
“In part, his award was for organising the highly successful Northern Chapter of the CWA for 20 years, but there is more to it than that. A former Chair of the Association and a constant supporter of all it does, his unfailing friendliness, enthusiasm and the pleasure of his company are infectious. His output is prodigious and he has given enjoyment to millions; an honest journeyman, he readily admits that he is not one of the most famous of crime writers, but is among those held in the greatest affection. Another fine example of how many good things come out of Yorkshire.”
On his own website, Peter Walker has written about his role in the Northern Chapter.