Noted British author and engineer, with a remarkable educational background at Balliol College, Oxford, England, pursued a career in aeronautics from an early stage. He joined the de Havilland Aircraft Company as an engineer, playing a crucial role in the construction of the airship R100. His involvement in the project was marked by a sense of pride and dedication.
However, the catastrophic loss of the R101, a government-funded airship built in direct competition with his design, served as a turning point in his career. Shaken by the disaster, he shifted his focus to aeroplane construction and founded his own company, Airspeed Ltd, in 1931. During this period, he also penned his first novel, Marazan, in 1926.
Beyond his literary pursuits, he engaged in secret work for the British Admiralty during World War II, continuing to write despite the demands of his wartime duties. In 1948, he embarked on a two-month journey to Australia, which would later inspire his novel A Town Like Alice.
Eventually, he settled in Australia with his family, where he would ultimately pass away. Throughout his life, he was driven by a passion for engineering and writing, leaving behind a lasting legacy in both fields.
