Of British origin and settled in the city for decades, he has published several books about Benidorm's history and has been part of the cast of actors of La Barqueta
Benidorm will recognize on the Day of Europe the professor and writer Charles M. Wilson
Benidorm City Council will recognize next May 9 on the occasion of Europe Day the British professor and writer Charles M. Wilson, as agreed by the Board of Spokesmen at the proposal of the mayor, Toni Pérez. At the time of granting the 'Distinción Europa' has been taken into account "the research work" of Wilson aimed at "further enriching" the heritage of Benidorm and "magnify the history of this city that both love, he and his wife Teresa ".
Born in Bradford (United Kingdom) in 1932, he studied at the University of Leeds, where he graduated in Spanish Language. In 1978 he began his study trips with students to Benidorm, organizing for several years a cultural exchange with the Institute of Secondary Education (IES) Pere Mª Orts i Bosch.
Established permanently in the city since his early retirement in 1985, Wilson is the author of several articles and books about Benidorm, including two monographs in collaboration with the also philologist Barbara Alemany, awarded last October with the Cultural Distinction 'Ciudad de Benidorm ' This is the case of 'El Castell de Benidorm' (2005) and 'Sant Jaume i Santa Anna' (2006).
However, Charles M. Wilson's best-known work is 'Benidorm the truth', a book published by the Generalitat Valenciana that collects the history of the city since its foundation in 1325 and which he wrote with the aim of banishing myths and black legends about the European capital of tourism. The work, which served to eradicate the bad image that swept the city during the 90s, was very well received both by the Spanish reader and abroad for telling unknown passages and anecdotes from Benidorm.
The bibliography of Charles M. Wilson is completed with 'A Spanish Workbook for First Examinations' (1984), prepared together with Carmen Ridao; 'Liberty or Death' (2008) and 'Just Desserts' (2012)
"Committed to Benidorm", as the proposal states, has been part of the La Barqueta Recreational Cultural Association for decades, being a member of the cast of actors responsible for the staging of the Finding of the Virgin of Suffrage that is represented on the Poniente beach.
Charles M. Wilson will receive the 'Distinción Europe' award next May 9 at noon in the course of an institutional plenary called to commemorate the Day of Europe.
