Dr Patrick Chaplin
(aka Dr Darts, Darts Historian)
Darts owes an enormous debt to one man who has recorded the game's history, the sport and players since 1900. As I get older, I realise the importance of recording historical events for future generations. Unfortunately, many myths still get rewritten as fact in this sport, and in some cases, research is required to uncover the sport's true origins and quell untruths.
Patrick is not only a collector of darts memorabilia, but he has put it to good use. For many years, Patrick contributed to Darts World Magazine and spent 10 years writing a thesis on Darts in England, 1900-39 - A Social History. The thesis traced the early history of darts, from the humble game played mainly in English public houses to a major social phenomenon during the War years, which earned Patrick a PhD. With a few amendments, the thesis was published as a book of the same name by Manchester University Press in 2009 in hardback, and later in paperback in 2020.
Patrick self-funded his part-time postgraduate research and was awarded a PhD by Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, in November 2007.
Patrick said, "After ten years of intensive research, I am thrilled to have gained my doctorate and made a significant contribution to the study of interwar popular culture."
Patrick added, "My study of darts began as a hobby but developed into an obsession. Eventually, I knew that I could make a positive contribution to the study of English popular culture by researching the social history of darts. I approached Anglia Ruskin University with my outline plan. This, thankfully, was accepted, and I then embarked on my journey towards a PhD".
Patrick was later made a research fellow in 2008. Patrick said, "On 21st April 2008, I received a letter from Professor Monika Pruetzel-Thomas, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences at ARU, confirming my designation as Research Fellow in History".
Patrick's research hasn't stopped there, as Patrick has recorded and shared many more years of darts history, although this may not feature in a book. Patrick has published many details on his own website.
Although Patrick may consider himself a social player in the sport, he is the author of several Dart Books and Autobiographies, including those of John Lowe (MBE) and Trina Gulliver (MBE).
Patrick has also been featured many times on TV and Radio, answering questions about the sport, and even his FREE monthly Dr Darts Newsletter (Darts History) has been featured on the topical news program 'Have I Got News for You', October 2022.
I have been fortunate to know Patrick for over 20 years and to have worked on his website for part of that time. He now maintains the website and regularly adds to the hundreds of features already published.
It is important for any research to include evidence, as history can be distorted by those who take what may be written on the internet, in some cases, in good faith, as accurate. Patrick's research is steeped in historical evidence and has uncovered some of the many mistruths surrounding the sport.
As for more books on the subject, we will have to wait and see. But there needs to be enough interest from past players to make any further contribution viable.
If you haven't already visited Patrick's website on darts, now is the time to do so. Patrick writes about darts and is involved in Pub History and the local history of Malden, Essex, where he lives.
Patrick Chalpin Dart Books:
Books that Patrick has written or co-written:
- Darts in England. 1900-39 – A social history
- 180! Fascinating Darts Facts
- Darts: Skill – Tactics – Techniques
- Scoring for Show, Doubles for Dough: Bobby George Darts Lingo – Patrick Chaplin
- The Official Bar Guide to Darts – (Designed for the American Market)
- Golden Girl – Trina Gulliver Autobiography
- John Lowe – Autobiography
Patrick has contributed to Darts Magazines, is the chairman of The Pub History Society, has provided a local history of Maldon, Essex, and is the co-author, with Irene Allen, of Landford: an obscure Essex Village Transformed. He has also revisited a book first published by Ken Subbings, A Brief History of Maldon's Inns, Ale Houses and Breweries.
