THE name Alan Plater will be well-known to those of you familiar with the glitterati of English playwrights.

Born in Jarrow, brought up in Hull, he trained as an architect in Newcastle but was a natural storyteller in his youth and it was no great surprise to anyone -- except perhaps himself -- when Plater became a full-time writer by profession.

He has enjoyed monumental success with close to 300 assorted credits in radio, television and films, plus six novels.

His work includes "Barchester Chronicles", "The Beiderbecke Trilogy", "Fortunes of War", "A Very British Coup" and, most recently, "The Last Will And Testament of Billy Two-Sheds".

His musical comedy, "Blonde Bomshells of 1943", is currently showing at the Octogan Theatre in Bolton until July 1.

However, what might not be as widely-known is Plater's love and deep knowledge of jazz. He confesses to having been hugely influenced by Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo", a tune on the first record he bought in his teens.

His subsequent career has been coloured with periods when he has met, and got to know personally, icons of the jazz genre in Britain, among them Joe Harriott, Tubby Hayes, Kenny Baker and, latterly, Alan Barnes.

Plater's book, "Doggin' Around", though not originally intended to be autobiographical, is a very entertaining meander down the years.

In fact, I can say with all honesty that there were passages when it seemed the author was with me, talking me through some of the hilarious, and moving chapters in his long, interesting and productive life.

That, more than anything, is the hallmark of the most accomplished writers.

If you enjoy a good book, and share Plater's affection for jazz and its musicians, get "Doggin' Around". I promise you will not be disappointed. In paperback, priced at just £6.99, it can be obtained from Northway Publications at 39, Tytherton Road, London, N19 4PZ, on 020 7263 9663.