Leslie Thomas
Encyclopedia
Leslie Thomas, OBE is a British
author.
National Service
such as "The Virgin Soldiers
" spawned two film versions, in 1969 and 1977, whilst his Tropic of Ruislip and Dangerous Davies, The Last Detective
have been adapted for television (the former as Tropic in 1979 and latter having also spawned a film version, in 1981).
His experiences as a British Army
conscript
in the Far East during the height of the Malayan emergency
were recalled when he appeared the BBC Radio 2
documentary Caught In The Draft
in 1985. Thomas joined ex-RAF national serviceman Bob Monkhouse
and BBC Radio 2 drivetime presenter John Dunn in a programme filled with reminiscences about their years in uniform. The programme was written by Terence Pettigrew, produced by Harry Thompson
and presented by Michael Aspel
.
He was also featured in the short-lived BBC 1 show Time of My Life
in 1983. The show was presented by Noel Edmonds
and Thomas was reunited with National Service
colleague Reg Wilcock for the first time in 32 years. They duetted a rendition of Tumbling Tumble weeds, a song they used to sing frequently on stage at The Liberty Club in Singapore
.
ed at the age of 12, Thomas was subsequently brought up in a Dr Barnardo
's home; the story of this upbringing was the subject of his first, autobiographical, book, This Time Next Week.
In 1949, Thomas was called up for National Service and embarked on a two year tour of duty in Singapore with the Royal Army Pay Corps
. While there he was briefly involved with the military action against communist rebels in Malaya (now Malaysia). He also began to write short articles for publication in English newspapers.
On his return to England in 1951, Thomas continued working for the local newspaper group in North London where he had worked before his National Service, but within 5 years he was working for The Exchange Telegraph news agency, now Extel
, and eventually with the London Evening News
newspaper, first as a sub-editor, later as a reporter. He stayed with the Evening News until 1965, when he embarked full-time on his writing career.
In 1984, Thomas published In My Wildest Dreams recounting his childhood in South Wales, his days in Doctor Barnardo's Homes in London, his National Service in the Far East, and his journalistic career.
List published 31 December 2004, he was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire
for services to Literature
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author.
Virgin Soldiers
His novels about 1950s BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
such as "The Virgin Soldiers
The Virgin Soldiers
The Virgin Soldiers is a 1966 comic novel by Leslie Thomas, inspired by his own experiences of National Service in the British Army.The novel was turned into a film The Virgin Soldiers in 1969, directed by John Dexter, with a screenplay by the British screenwriter John Hopkins. It starred Hywel...
" spawned two film versions, in 1969 and 1977, whilst his Tropic of Ruislip and Dangerous Davies, The Last Detective
Dangerous Davies
Detective Constable "Dangerous" Davies is the central character in a series of comic novels by Leslie Thomas and a TV series, The Last Detective made for ITV. The first novel in the series was also made into a film for television in 1981.- Profile :...
have been adapted for television (the former as Tropic in 1979 and latter having also spawned a film version, in 1981).
His experiences as a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
conscript
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
in the Far East during the height of the Malayan emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
were recalled when he appeared the BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
documentary Caught In The Draft
Caught in the Draft
Caught in the Draft is a 1941 comedy/war film, directed by David Butler.-Plot:Don Bolton is a famous Hollywood star who tries to get married in order to avoid the draft, as he feels it will interfere with his career...
in 1985. Thomas joined ex-RAF national serviceman Bob Monkhouse
Bob Monkhouse
Robert Alan "Bob" Monkhouse, OBE was an English entertainer. He was a successful comedy writer, comedian and actor and was also well known on British television as a presenter and game show host...
and BBC Radio 2 drivetime presenter John Dunn in a programme filled with reminiscences about their years in uniform. The programme was written by Terence Pettigrew, produced by Harry Thompson
Harry Thompson
Harry William Thompson was an English radio and television producer, comedy writer, novelist and biographer....
and presented by Michael Aspel
Michael Aspel
Michael Terence Aspel, OBE is an English television presenter, known for his reserved demeanour and rich speaking voice. He has been a high-profile TV personality in the United Kingdom since the 1960s, presenting programmes such as Crackerjack, Aspel and Company, This is Your Life, Strange But...
.
He was also featured in the short-lived BBC 1 show Time of My Life
Time Of My Life
Time Of My Life is a play by Alan Ayckbourn. It premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough on 21 April 1992 then in the West End on 3 August 1993.-Plot:...
in 1983. The show was presented by Noel Edmonds
Noel Edmonds
Noel Ernest Edmonds, is an English broadcaster and executive, who made his name as a DJ on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. He has presented many light entertainment television programmes, including Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Top of the Pops, The Late, Late Breakfast Show, Telly Addicts, Noel's Saturday...
and Thomas was reunited with National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
colleague Reg Wilcock for the first time in 32 years. They duetted a rendition of Tumbling Tumble weeds, a song they used to sing frequently on stage at The Liberty Club in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Barnardo's Boy
OrphanOrphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
ed at the age of 12, Thomas was subsequently brought up in a Dr Barnardo
Thomas John Barnardo
Thomas John Barnardo was a philanthropist and founder and director of homes for poor children, born in Dublin. From the foundation of the first Barnardo's home in 1870 to the date of Barnardo’s death, nearly 100,000 children had been rescued, trained and given a better life.- Early life :Barnardo...
's home; the story of this upbringing was the subject of his first, autobiographical, book, This Time Next Week.
In 1949, Thomas was called up for National Service and embarked on a two year tour of duty in Singapore with the Royal Army Pay Corps
Royal Army Pay Corps
The Royal Army Pay Corps was a former corps of the British Army responsible for administering all financial matters. It was amalgamated into the Adjutant General's Corps in 1992....
. While there he was briefly involved with the military action against communist rebels in Malaya (now Malaysia). He also began to write short articles for publication in English newspapers.
On his return to England in 1951, Thomas continued working for the local newspaper group in North London where he had worked before his National Service, but within 5 years he was working for The Exchange Telegraph news agency, now Extel
Extel
Extel was founded in 1872 with its initial undertaking being the laying of the first telegraphic cable on the Atlantic seabed to electronically connect London and New York...
, and eventually with the London Evening News
London Evening News
The London Evening News was a newspaper that was first published on 14 August 1855.Usually when people mention the London Evening News they are actually referring to The Evening News, that was published in London from 1881 to 1980 when it was incorporated into the Evening Standard.A newspaper under...
newspaper, first as a sub-editor, later as a reporter. He stayed with the Evening News until 1965, when he embarked full-time on his writing career.
In 1984, Thomas published In My Wildest Dreams recounting his childhood in South Wales, his days in Doctor Barnardo's Homes in London, his National Service in the Far East, and his journalistic career.
OBE
In the New Year HonoursNew Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
List published 31 December 2004, he was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to Literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
.