Bill Spence: Tributes paid Middlesbrough veteran and author

Bill Spence spent many years writing a column for local newspapers after his full and eventful career in the RAF - before his death on May 28. 

Born and brought up in Middlesbrough, where his father was a teacher, Bill joined the RAF after leaving school, trained in Canada and was then a Bomb Aimer flying in Lancasters with 44(Rhodesia) Squadron from airfields in Lincolnshire.

Bill Spence (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

He completed a full tour of duty from RAF Spilsby, flying 36 operations and then in the mercy missions to the starving Dutch immediately after the war.

After the war, Bill moved to Ampleforth, North Yorkshire and he always had an ambition for writing; his breakthrough came in 1959 when his first novel, ‘Dark Hell’ was published, a story based on his wartime experiences.

He followed this with 36 Westerns published over 20 years by Robert Hale under the pseudonyms Jim Bowden, Kirk Ford and Floyd Rogers.

Bill with one of his Jessica Blair books (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Westerns came naturally to him, having grown up with cinema ‘Wild West ‘in Middlesbrough, particularly the John Ford films. 

After visits to Whitby had brought him an interest in its heritage as a whaling port in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, he changed direction and had a history of whaling published under the title ‘Harpooned’.

He used the knowledge he acquired to write his first historical saga of the Yorkshire coast under the pseudonym Jessica Blair, a name which was to bring him considerable acclaim. 

The veteran and author grew up in Middlesbrough (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Twenty six novels were published with titles such as The Red Shawl, A Tapestry of Dreams and Just One More Day.

Some of these books had a whaling background, while other settings included wartime, smuggling, the Alum industry, Teeside Ironworking, art, and emigrating to the USA, once again drawing together all the knowledge he had gained over the years.

He belonged to the Romantic Novelists’ Association, attending meetings of the Association’s Northern Branch whenever he could to chat and share ideas with fellow members.

In 2014 he was nominated for the Association’s Epic Romantic Novel of the Year award.

After his time in the RAF, he moved to Ampleforth, North Yorkshire (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

His last Jessica Blair novel was published when he was 94, then he decided it was time to retire and use his computer to catalogue his vast book collection, download music and visit online art galleries and distant lands.

He did, however, continue to write a book review column which he had had published weekly for 50 years in the Gazette & Herald.

He always maintained his interest in Middlesbrough football club, visiting  Ayresome Park and later The Riverside whenever possible.

He had played cricket for his village team, captaining them for some years, and enjoyed watching both the Yorkshire Cricket team and the national team.

During the war he had married Joan Ludley of Ampleforth, settling there after leaving the RAF. Here they brought up their four children and he is survived by three of them.

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Bill’s daughter, Anne, said: “His last Jessica Blair romantic saga was published when he was 95 and then he decided it was time to retire and use his computer to catalogue his vast book collection, download music and visit online art galleries and distant lands.

“Of course, all this time and even for a short while after ‘retiring’ he ran a book review column for the Malton Gazette for 50 years, which he thoroughly enjoyed doing.”

Anne said over the past year her father's health had slowly deteriorated and he slipped quietly away at the care home where he lived.

"A sad day for us, his children but he certainly lived a full life and we are grateful for that."

Bill Spence, (born April 20th 1923, died May 28th 2024)