Subject:  Information on Lingfield aviation art - (Stanley) Howard Leigh and W E Johns |
Author:
Phil
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Date Posted: 17:28:41 02/19/07 Mon
I am researching an article about an aviation artist who resided in Lingfield during the 1920's/30's. He was (Stanley) Howard Leigh, perhaps most famous for being the brother-in-law of W E Johns (author of the Biggles books). - W E Johns was living with Doris Leigh (Howard's older sister) and took Howard Leigh 'under his wing' when he left school, and instructed him in aviation art. - Indeed, Howard Leigh illlustrated many of the earliest 'Biggles books'.
Little is known about Howard Leigh. I am trying to piece together the fragmentary records of his life and work. He was born in 1909, moved to Lingfield on leaving school, in 1927 (apparently he worked from an art studio in Lingfield), and lived at 'Lyme House Farm, Lingfield', with his wife. (He had married Olive Eldon, at one of the Lingfield parish churches - I am trying to establish details of this). During the 1930's he became one of the foremost aviation artists of his time, illustrating literally hundreds of books, magazines, children's papers, postcards, fine-art prints. At the outbreak of WWII he joined the National Fire Service. Sadly his promising career was curtailed when he died at the premature age of 32, on the 6th February 1942. I believe he is buried at St Peter & St Paul Parish Church in Lingfield.
I would love to hear from anyone with any knowledge of either Howard Leigh, or W E Johns, however trivial!
Many thanks,
Phil
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