|
John Richard Newton Chance wrote over 150 science fiction, mystery and children’s books and numerous short stories under various names. By his own account he “made a steady income by delivering thrillers to Robert Hale (the UK publisher) at a chapter a week.” Chance — who would eventually adopt the penname John Lymington — was born in Streatham Hill, London, in 1911, the son of Dick Chance, a managing editor at the Amalgamated Press. He studied to become a civil engineer, then took up quantity surveying, but gave it up at 21 to become a full-time writer. He wrote for his father’s titles, including “Dane, the Dog Detective” for Illustrated Chips, and a number of stories for the Sexton Blake Library and The Thriller Library. His novel Night of the Big Heat was adapted to television in 1960 and to film, starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, in 1967. Chance served in the RAF during World War II, later becoming a flying instructor. He met his wife-to-be, Shirley Savill, in 1943 while she served as a section officer in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. They married on 22 July. Eventually Chance was given indefinite leave, and was invalided out with the permanent rank of flight lieutenant. His autobiography, Yellow Belly (Robert Hale, 1959) documents this time. After the war, they moved to Hampshire, where their three sons were born. The family moved to the Isle of Wight in 1956, to take up management of a pub. He died August 3, 1983. |
