Maurice Procter was born in Nelson, Lancashire, on 4th February 1906. He was the son of Rose Hannah and William Procter, and had 2 brothers: Emmott & Ned.
He was a keen swimmer. He grew up in Charles Street, Nelson, and went to Nelson Grammar School until he was 15 when he ran away to join the army. His parents lobbied their MP to obtain his release and he was told to try again when he was older. He then worked in a variety of jobs, including a time as a weaver in a cotton mill.
He left Nelson in 1927 to become a police constable in Halifax. At that time, a policeman could not serve in his home town. He was based at King Cross, and stayed at the Police Station when he first arrived.
Later, he lodged with Isabella and Arthur Edwin Blakey at 24 Cromwell Street, Halifax. Isabella had been a cook at Heathfield House, Rishworth, and Arthur Edwin was an electrician. They had 3 daughters: Phyllis, Eve, and Winifred.
In 1933, Maurice married Winifred – the youngest sister – at St Mary's Church, Lister Lane, and they went to live at 20 Willowfield Road, Halifax.
He was transferred from Halifax to Mixenden. During World War II, the family lived at the Police House, Mixenden Village. He served in Mixenden for 5 years, often walking 16 miles every day.
They had one child: Noel who lives in Ripponden. Winnie still lives in Halifax.
He served in Halifax for 19 years, and was a Police Constable and part of his time was on motor-cycle patrol. He was involved in the investigation of the Halifax Slasher in 1938.
He was attracted by the idea earning his living as a writer. He began writing and his first book – No Proud Chivalry – was published in 1946. He left the police in 1947.
When writing, he worked in a small study at his home in Halifax, and – during the summer months – in Spain and Gibraltar. In later life, he enjoyed reading, gardening, playing cards, motor cycling, and generally socialising.
In 1959, he suffered a heart attack, but recovered and continued writing.
In 1972, in an interview for the Evening Courier published on 29th March 1972, he said that he made a comfortable living from writing
about £3,000 in a good year
Ill health dogged his latter years. He preferred to remain close to his family and friends in Yorkshire than to retire to the warmth and sunshine. He died in Halifax Infirmary in 1973.
His son, Noel, remembers him as
a man with no malice, fair and a great raconteur
| His writing |
He turned to writing around 1946, and produced several novels, most of them novels with much detail about police methodology. The genre is known as police procedural. He was an intelligent and knowledgeable writer. He was attentive to details – such as blowing a safe, or performing a post mortem.
The authenticity of the policemen and the criminals arises from his own experiences. The novels are mostly set in the North of England.
His first book was No Proud Chivalry [1946]. His last book was Dog Man [1969]. His books were published by Hutchinson in England, and by Harper & Row and Collier in the USA
Six of his books – including Hell is a City and Rich is the Treasure – were filmed.
He pioneered the idea of using a strong main character.
His regular characters include:
| The Howard B. Gotlieb Archival Research Center |
Maurice's work is commemorated at the Howard B. Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University, Massachusetts. His original drafts and manuscripts are available for inspection here.
In the mid-1960s, when Gotlieb invited him to send manuscripts, typescripts and drafts of all his published and unpublished work, proofs, notes, notebooks, photographs, diaries, books in translation, and correspondence files, Maurice told the press that he was better known as a writer in the United States than in England; 60% if his income from books came from the United States.
The Friends of the Libraries of the University there bought a set of the Cambridge History of English Literature in Maurice's memory and presented the 15 volumes to the library.
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