Writers inspired by South Oxhey are holding a couple of events to encourage people from the estate to find their own voice. Just as Gareth Malone did with The Choir, former South Oxhey resident John Schad wants to inspire people to explore their creativity, only this time around using words.

“We’re holding a writing day followed by a reading event to encourage and enable South Oxhey to write itself,” says John. “Then there’s an evening platform the following evening for those who want to share what they’ve written.”

A novelist and critic, John (51) grew up on the estate from 1965 to 1982. His father was the minister of St Martin’s Church and he attended Greenfields School.

“It was known as Mr Allen’s Little Eton,” John recalls. “Vivian Allen was an idealist in education terms. He brought chamber orchestras into the school and there was always a stress on the arts – he felt it was extremely important and valuable. We did an awful lot of writing – it was delightful and amazing.”

John went on to study at Watford Grammar School for Boys and the University of York. He has been teaching English Literature at the University of Lancaster for the past six years.

His documentary novel, The Late Walter Benjamin, is set in the very early, immediately post-war days of the South Oxhey estate and includes extracts from the Watford Observer about the development of South Oxhey.

“The book centres on a set of stray peculiar characters – three males who inhabit a house. One assumes they are bombed out Cockneys which was the case for the majority of people on the estate. What the novel is attempting to do is describe that opening moment when the estate begins and explore the sense of it as both heaven and hell.

“Folk on the estate couldn’t work out which it was – they had gardens and indoor toilets but it was hell in the sense they were not in London anymore and there were no schools, shops, meeting places or even street lamps and pavements.”

To help others get their ideas down on paper, John has organised a one-day workshop at South Oxhey Library led by playwright and poet Michael Crowley, who grew up on the estate in the 1960s. Participants will be guided to develop their own idea for a play and write an opening scene.

Then on the next night people who attended the workshop can share their work. Michael and John, as well as historian David Reidy will give readings from their work.

A Literary Estate – South Oxhey in Words takes place at South Oxhey Library, Bridlington Road, South Oxhey, Friday June 1 from 10am-4pm. Places are free but register at the library (0300 123 4049). The free evening of readings takes place on Saturday, June 2 at 7.30pm in the Green Room Bar, Watford Palace Theatre, Clarendon Road, Watford.