In between his 99 roles in films and TV series including Dr Zhivago, Coronation Street, Casualty and the first Doctor Who, actor Bernard Kay, 78, found time to write for the first time since he was a Guardian stringer more than 60 years ago; and last night the result won the £5,000 creative non-fiction prize of the New Writing Ventures awards.

The chief judge, novelist Ali Smith, praised Kay's account of growing up in Bolton as wise, taut, gripping and "a perfect piece of explication".

The awards, sponsored by the University of East Anglia and the Arts Council, are a showcase for unpublished authors.