Author Winston Graham's son, Andrew, has lent a number of personal mementoes to the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro for an exhibition to mark the centenary of the famous Poldark author this summer.

Poldark's Cornwall - The Life and Works of Winston Graham' is being staged at the museum from 14 June to 13 September. As well as copies of his many published manuscripts - including the 12 Poldark books and Marnie' which was filmed by Alfred Hitchcock - the exhibition will feature a range of items that belonged to the author, together with artefacts and costumes from 18th and 19th century Cornwall and video clips from the hugely successful television series.

Andrew Graham and his wife Peggotty have been working closely with the museum's Curator of Social History Jo Mattingly on preparations for the event - including its official launch which will be attended by members of Winston Graham's family, his publisher, his editor and stars from the Poldark' TV adaptation.

Although the author was born in Manchester, he moved to Perranporth in Cornwall at the age of 17 in 1925 and remained there until 1959 when he moved away for family reasons, first to France and then to Sussex where he died, aged 95, on 10 July 2003. Despite the move, Winston Graham's passionate love of Cornwall remained undimmed and he often returned for visits.

His first novel, The House with the Stained Glass Windows', was published in 1934 and the first Poldark novel, Ross Poldark' was published in 1945. That was followed by eleven further Poldark titles, the last of which, Bella Poldark' came out in 2002. When the BBC screened the Poldark TV series in the 1970s, it was so successful that vicars were said to have re-scheduled church services rather than risk clashing with the drama's broadcast.

Andrew Graham was born in Perranporth and, like his father, has enjoyed an illustrious career - albeit one less connected with the literary arts. Currently Master of Balliol College in Oxford, he was economic adviser to both Prime Minister Harold Wilson and to Labour leader John Smith. Amongst the items he is lending for the exhibition is one of his father's much-loved Trilby hats.

"He always wore a trilby," he said. "He had six or seven and, when he was feeling rakish, he would wear it on the back of his head."

The fact that 2008 marks his father's centenary would, he thought, surprise some people.

"According to many of his obituary notices he was 93 when he died but in fact he was 95. The reason for the discrepancy is that he lied about his age to his publishers because he wanted them to take him seriously so he said he was two years older than he actually was.

"My family and I are very excited about the exhibition. My father loved Cornwall - it was absolutely central to his life and work - so it is absolutely right that his centenary is being celebrated at the Royal Cornwall Museum."

Jo Mattingly would be very interested to hear from anyone with Winston Graham memorabilia of their own.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who remember the TV series being filmed and who may have kept their own mementoes,' she said. I would love to hear from anyone who feels they may have something that could be included in the exhibition. I would also like people to send me postcards with their own memories written on the back - especially those who were extras in Poldark'.' The postcards should be sent to Jo Mattingly, Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro TR1 2SJ.