Exodus

by Philip Turner

My Uncle Daniel Turner was back in his hometown, as usual, and he said to me, “Phil, let’s go to Canada and do some gene work—you’ll drive.” After I am on a four lane road, he said,”I want to tell you about that Turner tale where our ancestors came from Scotland but first, I need to say, ‘It’s not true.’” As the Turner had many Scots as friends, it seems they adopted their story. That and the fact that the Scots were going to vote “yes” or “no”, to remain in the United Kingdom, lead me into Scotland’s history where I found the “Clearance”—the removal of the Scots and replacing them with sheep. The English had military men the world over and needed the wool for clothing. Later, when my Uncle Tom Johnson, on mother’s side, died, I was surprised that he wore a kilt at clan gatherings. I now recognize my Scot genes. The story, Exodus, follows three brothers’ lives as they leave and their lives afterwards. One in Ireland, one in South Carolina, and one in the British navy.

221 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2014

About the author

Philip William Turner is an English author best known for his children's books set in the fictional town of Darnley Mills (1964–1977). Under the pen name Stephen Chance he is known for the Reverend Septimus Treloar mystery fiction series (1971–1979).

For his second novel and second Darnley Mills book, The Grange at High Force, he won the 1965 Carnegie Medal in Literature from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book by a British subject.

Born in British Columbia, Canada on 3 December 1925 to English parents from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Philip Turner was brought to England in 1926. He was educated at Hinckley Grammar School in Leicestershire and spent many school holidays exploring the East Anglian fens whilst staying with his grandparents.

He served his National Service from 1943 to 1946 as a Sub-Lieutenant Mechanical Engineer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He then resumed his education at Worcester College, Oxford, whence he graduated in 1949. He married Margaret Diana Samson in 1950 with whom he had two sons and a daughter.

He began writing religious pieces in the mid-1950s and also wrote several books for young adults under the name Stephen Chance. The first Septimus book, The Danedyke Mystery (1971), was adapted for television in 1979.

Philip and Margaret lived in West Malvern for 30 years until his death from cancer in January 2006. He is buried at St. Mathias Church, Malvern Link.