Desmond Leslie
Encyclopedia
Desmond Arthur Peter Leslie (29 June 1921, County Monaghan
, Ireland
– 21 February 2001, Antibes
, France
) was a British pilot, film maker, writer, and musician, of English, Irish and Scottish descent. He was the younger son, and youngest child, of Shane Leslie
(Sir John Leslie), who was a first cousin of Sir Winston Churchill, and Marjorie (née Ide) Leslie.
, became one of the first pioneers of electric music, and co-authored one of the first books on UFOs, Flying Saucers Have Landed (1953), with writer George Adamski
.
Desmond is probably most famously known for punching theatre critic Bernard Levin
in front of eleven million viewers during an edition of the live satirical TV show That Was The Week That Was
in 1962. Ostensibly this was to protect the honour of his then-wife, Agnes Bernelle
, in response to Levin's critical review of her show, Savagery and Delight.
Bernelle stated in her biography, The Fun Palace, that the show was poorly received due to Desmond's custom-built loudspeakers being moved below the stage, and that Desmond had failed to check the situation, missing the show for a social appointment. As a consequence no one behind the front two rows heard a word she sang. She claimed he probably punched Levin more out of embarrassment than loyalty (though see a fuller explanation under Bernelle's own entry). Levin's obituaries described Leslie only as an expert on UFOs. Leslie's assault on Levin was cited as one of the primary reasons that time-delay was introduced into live television broadcasts.
. He also wrote a series of satirical books ranging from The Jesus File, dealing with the crucifixion of Christ as recorded through the paper-work and internal correspondences of the Roman Garrison, to How Britain Won The Space Race, which he co-wrote with celebrated amateur astronomer Patrick Moore.
/director
for film
and television
.
During financial difficulties during the production of Stranger At My Door, Desmond opted to compose the music for the film himself. Some stated the music was the best part of the film. In the early 1950s Leslie designed the world's first effective multi-track sound mixing desk which he had built by Rupert Neve. It can still be seen in his family home Castle Leslie
, Monaghan, where it has been an object of reverence for visitors such as Mick Jagger
and Paul McCartney
.
. In January 1960, Leslie pressed a single acetate called Music of the Future. All Leslie recordings were later licensed to Joseph Weinburger, and Leslie's recordings were pressed onto a short series of 78rpm library discs, occasionally being put to use in science and mystery based programing, such as early Dr. Who episodes. He used a great number of tape sources to create his pieces; some sources he mentions in his liner notes are motor horns, humming tops and bells.
In 2005, Jonny Trunk's British record label, Trunk Records
, re-released Desmond's 1960 acetate, never before released commercially. The sounds on this release were mastered from the original acetate. The recordings are believed to have been made between 1955 and 1959, and included are Desmond's original sleevenotes, containing information pertaining to each selection.
) on 18 August 1945. That marriage ended in divorce. The couple had two sons and one daughter:
He remarried, to Jennifer Helen Strong, in 1970; they had two daughters:
which eventually opened to the public. He later relocated to Nice, France due to the emphysema
which claimed his life in Antibes
in 2001, aged 79.
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
– 21 February 2001, Antibes
Antibes
Antibes is a resort town in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.It lies on the Mediterranean in the Côte d'Azur, located between Cannes and Nice. The town of Juan-les-Pins is within the commune of Antibes...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was a British pilot, film maker, writer, and musician, of English, Irish and Scottish descent. He was the younger son, and youngest child, of Shane Leslie
Shane Leslie
Sir John Randolph Leslie, 3rd Baronet, generally known as Shane Leslie , was an Irish-born diplomat and writer. He was a first cousin of the British war time Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill...
(Sir John Leslie), who was a first cousin of Sir Winston Churchill, and Marjorie (née Ide) Leslie.
Biography
During his lifetime he served as a Spitfire pilot in the RAF during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, became one of the first pioneers of electric music, and co-authored one of the first books on UFOs, Flying Saucers Have Landed (1953), with writer George Adamski
George Adamski
George Adamski was a Polish-born American citizen who became widely known in ufology circles, and to some degree in popular culture, after he claimed to have photographed ships from other planets, met with friendly Nordic alien "Space Brothers", and to have taken flights with them...
.
Desmond is probably most famously known for punching theatre critic Bernard Levin
Bernard Levin
Henry Bernard Levin CBE was an English journalist, author and broadcaster, described by The Times as "the most famous journalist of his day". The son of a poor Jewish family in London, he won a scholarship to the independent school Christ's Hospital and went on to the London School of Economics,...
in front of eleven million viewers during an edition of the live satirical TV show That Was The Week That Was
That Was The Week That Was
That Was The Week That Was, also known as TW3, is a satirical television comedy programme that was shown on BBC Television in 1962 and 1963. It was devised, produced and directed by Ned Sherrin and presented by David Frost...
in 1962. Ostensibly this was to protect the honour of his then-wife, Agnes Bernelle
Agnes Bernelle
Agnes Bernelle was an actress and singer, long-based in the UK for much of her career, although she later settled in Ireland. Her family had fled Berlin in 1936...
, in response to Levin's critical review of her show, Savagery and Delight.
Bernelle stated in her biography, The Fun Palace, that the show was poorly received due to Desmond's custom-built loudspeakers being moved below the stage, and that Desmond had failed to check the situation, missing the show for a social appointment. As a consequence no one behind the front two rows heard a word she sang. She claimed he probably punched Levin more out of embarrassment than loyalty (though see a fuller explanation under Bernelle's own entry). Levin's obituaries described Leslie only as an expert on UFOs. Leslie's assault on Levin was cited as one of the primary reasons that time-delay was introduced into live television broadcasts.
Writer
Throughout his life, Desmond Leslie published several books, including a number on the subject of UFOs -- the first of which, Flying Saucers Have Landed, was co-authored with George AdamskiGeorge Adamski
George Adamski was a Polish-born American citizen who became widely known in ufology circles, and to some degree in popular culture, after he claimed to have photographed ships from other planets, met with friendly Nordic alien "Space Brothers", and to have taken flights with them...
. He also wrote a series of satirical books ranging from The Jesus File, dealing with the crucifixion of Christ as recorded through the paper-work and internal correspondences of the Roman Garrison, to How Britain Won The Space Race, which he co-wrote with celebrated amateur astronomer Patrick Moore.
Screenwriting/directing career
Desmond Leslie was briefly a screenwriterScreenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
/director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
for film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
- My Hands Are Clay (1947)
- Stranger At My Door (1950)
- Stranger From Venus (1954)
- Them And The Thing (1960)
During financial difficulties during the production of Stranger At My Door, Desmond opted to compose the music for the film himself. Some stated the music was the best part of the film. In the early 1950s Leslie designed the world's first effective multi-track sound mixing desk which he had built by Rupert Neve. It can still be seen in his family home Castle Leslie
Castle Leslie
Castle Leslie, home to an Irish branch of Clan Leslie, is located on the 4 km² Castle Leslie Estate adjacent to the village of Glaslough, north-east of Monaghan town in County Monaghan, Ireland.-Architecture:...
, Monaghan, where it has been an object of reverence for visitors such as Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
.
Electronic music career
During the late 1950s, he began nurturing his interest in contemporary music. In his small home studio, he experimented with the sounds of musique concrèteMusique concrète
Musique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that utilises acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The compositional material is not restricted to the inclusion of sounds derived from musical instruments or voices, nor to elements traditionally thought of as "musical"...
. In January 1960, Leslie pressed a single acetate called Music of the Future. All Leslie recordings were later licensed to Joseph Weinburger, and Leslie's recordings were pressed onto a short series of 78rpm library discs, occasionally being put to use in science and mystery based programing, such as early Dr. Who episodes. He used a great number of tape sources to create his pieces; some sources he mentions in his liner notes are motor horns, humming tops and bells.
In 2005, Jonny Trunk's British record label, Trunk Records
Trunk Records
Trunk Records is a British independent record label, which specialises mainly in lost film scores, unreleased TV music, library music, sexploitation and kitsch releases...
, re-released Desmond's 1960 acetate, never before released commercially. The sounds on this release were mastered from the original acetate. The recordings are believed to have been made between 1955 and 1959, and included are Desmond's original sleevenotes, containing information pertaining to each selection.
Marriages and children
His first wife was Agnes Elizabeth Bernauer (Agnes BernelleAgnes Bernelle
Agnes Bernelle was an actress and singer, long-based in the UK for much of her career, although she later settled in Ireland. Her family had fled Berlin in 1936...
) on 18 August 1945. That marriage ended in divorce. The couple had two sons and one daughter:
- Shaun Rudolf Christopher Leslie (b. 4 June 1947), married Charlotte Bing; no offspring. He is the heir of the Leslie BaronetcyLeslie BaronetsThere have been four Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Leslie, one in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, one in the Baronetage of Ireland, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
, of Glaslough, County MonaghanCounty MonaghanCounty Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, that his uncle, John Leslie, currently (as of 2009) holds. - Christopher Mark Leslie (b. 7 December 1952), married Cliona Manahan and had two children, Leah Leslie and Luke Leslie.
- Antonia Kelvey Oriel Leslie (b. 1963), married Colm Nolan, and raised one daughter, Lola Leslie.
He remarried, to Jennifer Helen Strong, in 1970; they had two daughters:
- Samantha Helen Leslie (b. 1966)
- Camilla Patricia Leslie (b. 29 March 1969)
Last years and death
During the 1990s he devoted his time to restoring the aging family home of Castle LeslieCastle Leslie
Castle Leslie, home to an Irish branch of Clan Leslie, is located on the 4 km² Castle Leslie Estate adjacent to the village of Glaslough, north-east of Monaghan town in County Monaghan, Ireland.-Architecture:...
which eventually opened to the public. He later relocated to Nice, France due to the emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
which claimed his life in Antibes
Antibes
Antibes is a resort town in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.It lies on the Mediterranean in the Côte d'Azur, located between Cannes and Nice. The town of Juan-les-Pins is within the commune of Antibes...
in 2001, aged 79.