HE was one of the most evocative English countryside writers of the 20th Century.

But wherever he went, Romany always came back to the village which he loved.

Just a couple of miles north of Whitby, Sandsend inspired Romany to write and helped him recover from a life-threatening illness.

On Saturday, George Swalwell, who in 1937, as a ten-year-old, helped carry the writer's stretcher across fields to an ambulance when he was taken seriously ill, was guest of honour when the Romany Society unveiled a plaque to commemorate the author.

The ceremony at the Sandsend cottage which he owned until his death in 1943, was the highlight of a weekend of events organised by the society.

Romany, real name the Reverend George Bramwell Evens, began his writing career in 1929 and found fame through his radio broadcasts.

He fell in love with Sandsend during family holidays and had a caravan at nearby Sleights, basing much of his nature writing on the area.

However, in 1937, aged 53, he was taken seriously ill with a duodenal ulcer at the caravan and was rushed to Whitby Hospital.

Romany recovered in Sandsend and later bought a cottage. A short distance from the seafront and renamed Romany Cottage following his death in 1943, it was where the plaque was unveiled on Saturday.

Mr Swalwell, aged 82, from Sleights, performed the ceremony. As a young boy, he accompanied the writer on the walks made famous in the Romany books.

He said: "He was good company. He would entertain anyone."

Phil Shelley, publications officer for the Romany Society, said: "The weekend has been an emotional experience."