WHO was Charles Kingsley? An insight into the man who wrote "Westward Ho!", who held strong views and was a prolific writer is the subject of a talk at Crediton that looks at his writings and his time.

The talk, by Dr Robin Wootton, chairman of the Devonshire Association Literature and Art Section, will be held at the Boniface Centre, Crediton tomorrow, Saturday, March 23, at 2.30pm.

Kingsley was the DA’s 10th president.

Robin says: "He was a polymathic, independent minded cleric, a polemicist, a pioneering socialist, and an indefatigable writer."

His first novel was "Yeast - a Problem", then came the likes of "Westward Ho!", "The Water Babies", "The Heroes", "Hypatia", "Alton Locke", "Two Years Ago" and others as well as lots of poems.

Robin will explore Kingsley’s life, and discuss how his strongly held views on society, sanitation, celibacy and the evolution of man permeate his novels, pamphlets and poetry.

All are welcome to go along, entry for members is £2 and £3 for non-members. There will be tea and biscuits.