Playwright, Author. He will perhaps be best remembered for penning the story “Oh, What a Lovely War!” (1963) which was made into both a successful stage and film adaptation. Born Charles Frederick William Chilton, his father a clerk for his family business (a painting and decoration company) perished during World War I at the age of nineteen. His mother would also not live long enough to see Charles become a man. He was raised by his grandmother and after dropping out of parochial school at the age of 15, he landed a job as an assistant to an electric sign maker. He later got a job with the BBC and worked his way up to disc jockey and discovered a fondness for jazz music which he played during programs. Following service with the RAF during World War II, he resumed his radio career and drew attention to a wider audience as he worked with such personalities as Alistair Cooke and Roy Plomley. During the 1950s, Chilton played a large role in broadening the popularity of British radio with the program “Journey into Space”, a fictional series of stories for which was a precursor of actual advancements in space expeditions a decade later and the music and western-themed program “Riders of the Range” both of which her produced and contributed material. Additionally, he produced the popular “Goon Show”, for which launched the careers of Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe. In 1961, his story “A Long, Long Trail” was broadcasted and caught the attention of many in the industry. Chilton was asked to re-write the synopsis (a musically-influenced plot which lightened the horrors of World War I) for a stage production and the result was “Oh What a Lovely War!”. The story went from the London stage to Broadway (1964 to 1965) and finally a 1969 motion picture directed by Richard Attenborough, for which garnered a BAFTA Film Award and a Golden Globe Award. Chilton continued to work for the BBC well into his eighties and also served as a lecturer in London. (bio by: C.S.)