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| Virgin Soldiers author Leslie Thomas dies aged 83 | Virgin Soldiers author Leslie Thomas dies aged 83 |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The author Leslie Thomas, best known for his comic novel The Virgin Soldiers, has died aged 83. | The author Leslie Thomas, best known for his comic novel The Virgin Soldiers, has died aged 83. |
| Thomas, born in Newport, south Wales, was brought up a Barnardo's home from age 12, and was a Fleet Street reporter before he began novel writing. | Thomas, born in Newport, south Wales, was brought up a Barnardo's home from age 12, and was a Fleet Street reporter before he began novel writing. |
| In 2004 he was given an OBE for services to literature having sold millions of books worldwide. | In 2004 he was given an OBE for services to literature having sold millions of books worldwide. |
| He died at his home near Salisbury in Wiltshire on Tuesday after a lengthy illness. | He died at his home near Salisbury in Wiltshire on Tuesday after a lengthy illness. |
| He leaves his wife, four children and four grandchildren. | He leaves his wife, four children and four grandchildren. |
| The Virgin Soldiers, inspired by Thomas' national service in Malaya, tells the story of a group of British soldiers based in the Far East. | The Virgin Soldiers, inspired by Thomas' national service in Malaya, tells the story of a group of British soldiers based in the Far East. |
| The success of the novel - and two subsequent feature films - allowed Thomas to become a full-time writer. | The success of the novel - and two subsequent feature films - allowed Thomas to become a full-time writer. |
| He wrote more than 30 novels including Tropic of Ruislip and Dangerous Davies, The Last Detective, both of which were adapted for television. | He wrote more than 30 novels including Tropic of Ruislip and Dangerous Davies, The Last Detective, both of which were adapted for television. |
| Thomas's father, a sailor, died when he was a boy but he used his experiences of growing up in a orphanage to write his 1964 first novel, This Time Next Week. | Thomas's father, a sailor, died when he was a boy but he used his experiences of growing up in a orphanage to write his 1964 first novel, This Time Next Week. |
| Wartime | |
| His success as a novelist came after a career as a journalist, starting as a reporter on a weekly newspaper before a stint on Fleet Street with the London Evening News. | His success as a novelist came after a career as a journalist, starting as a reporter on a weekly newspaper before a stint on Fleet Street with the London Evening News. |
| Among the stories he covered was the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. | Among the stories he covered was the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. |
| Born into a seafaring family, Thomas maintained his connection with Newport. | |
| In 2002, he unveiled an wartime painting at Newport Art Gallery that was never finished after the artist Stanley Lewis was called up for military service. | |
| Speaking after the announcement of his death on Wednesday, his wife, Diana, said: "He had a wonderful life and he travelled the world. All he ever wanted to do was write and that is what he did. | Speaking after the announcement of his death on Wednesday, his wife, Diana, said: "He had a wonderful life and he travelled the world. All he ever wanted to do was write and that is what he did. |
| "He died at home with his family around him." | "He died at home with his family around him." |
| The childrens' charity Barnardo's tweeted: "Very sad news about the death of author and former Barnardo's boy Leslie Thomas - our condolences to his family." | |
| 'Raconteur' | |
| Author and former chief executive of Literature Wales, Peter Finch, said Thomas shied away from what he saw as Wales's literary establishment, but did attend events encouraging young writers. | |
| He said: "He was super friendly person. There was no edge to him whatsoever. He was a slightly private person but he was good company. | |
| "He was a raconteur. That was his strength, which you can tell from the books. | |
| "He made me laugh, a lot. It's very sad to see his found of creativity is now extinguished." |