Orphan's church note made into radio drama

The story of William Elliott has been turned into a new drama for BBC Radio 4

A message left by an orphaned Victorian choirboy in a church pew has been made into a BBC radio drama.

The note, written by William Elliott, was discovered at Sunderland's old Holy Trinity Church in 2022 and asked whoever found it to "keep it in remembrance of me".

Eight-year-old William moved into the city's Orphan Asylum after his father died at sea in 1897, and relocated to the US aged 19.

North East actor Charlie Hardwick stars in William's Castle, which was written and produced by a University of Sunderland lecturer.

Volunteers worked to trace William's story after it was found at the former Holy Trinity Church

William wrote his message on the back of an order of service after he was haunted by dreams of his late father.

It read: “Dear friend. Whoever finds this letter, don’t tear it up or throw it away. Keep it, in remembrance of me. Signed, William Elliott.”

His story was uncovered in 2022 during the renovation of the former church in the city's east end, which is now arts and events venue Seventeen Nineteen.

William Elliott joined the US Navy shortly after arriving in the country in 1903

Local volunteers worked to trace William's story and found he went on to become a US navy commander.

He had two children and was married three times, before he died aged 84 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.

Actress Charlie Hardwick (left) with Jay Sykes (right) and the team behind William's Castle

The community group approached audio lecturer Jay Sykes to develop the idea into a drama for radio, which was written and produced for Newcastle-based production company Sister Sounds.

Mr Sykes said he wanted the drama to "explore the metaphor of the murkiness of time" and to show "a scared young boy reaching out into his unknown future".

William’s Castle will be broadcast on Monday, at 14:15 BST on BBC Radio 4 and on BBC Sounds.