Born in Folkestone, England. Screenwriter who entered British films as a writer and actor in the mid-1930s. Notable writing credits (alone or in collaboration) include JOY RIDE (1935), THE IMPROPER DUCHESS and TROPICAL TROUBLE (both 1936), BAND WAGGON (1940), A CASE FOR PC 49 (1951), COSH BOY and EMERGENCY CALL (both 1952), THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY and ALBERT R.N. (both 1953), THE GOOD DIE YOUNG and THE SEA SHALL NOT HAVE THEM (both 1954), REACH FOR THE SKY and THREE MEN IN A BOAT (both 1956), THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON (1957), CARVE HER NAME WITH PRIDE and A CRY FROM THE STREETS (both 1958), FERRY TO HONG KONG (1959), LIGHT UP THE SKY! (1960), EMERGENCY and ALMOST ANGELS (both 1962), OLIVER! (1968), and FRIENDS (1971). His last screenplay for a film was PAUL AND MICHELLE (1974), although he was script editor for THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977), MOONRAKER (1979) and EDUCATING RITA (1983).  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium) 1968: OLIVER! 1 nomination