H. F. Ellis
Encyclopedia
Humphry Francis Ellis MBE
(July 17, 1907 – December 8, 2000) was an English comic writer, best known for his creation of A.J. Wentworth, the ineffectual schoolmaster whose fictional diaries were first published in Punch magazine.
, Oxford, in 1930, Ellis went to Marlborough College
to teach. Punch magazine first accepted a submission in 1931, and he left to become a staff writer on the magazine in 1933, the same year he married Barbara Hasseldine. Ellis became Literary and Deputy Editor in 1949, a post which he held until 1953, when he resigned in protest at the appointment of Malcolm Muggeridge
as editor. It was during this period that he developed the character of A.J. Wentworth, inspired by his experience as a schoolmaster, and The Papers of A.J. Wentworth B.A. were first published in book form in 1949.
Punch magazine continued to publish Ellis's work, but from 1954 he found a more lucrative market in The New Yorker
, where the Wentworth stories proved very popular.
The Wentworth stories were read out on the BBC Radio 4
programme Woman's Hour
by the actor Arthur Lowe
, who went on to play Wentworth in a BBC sitcom called AJ Wentworth BA in 1982. Only six episodes were made.
He was a rugby football
Blue at University, and subsequently played for the town of Richmond and for Kent
.
H.F. Ellis died in Taunton
in 2000, but not before The Papers of A.J. Wentworth B.A. were republished by Prion Press.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(July 17, 1907 – December 8, 2000) was an English comic writer, best known for his creation of A.J. Wentworth, the ineffectual schoolmaster whose fictional diaries were first published in Punch magazine.
Life
Humphry Francis Ellis was born in Metheringham, Lincolnshire. After gaining a Double first in Classics at Magdalen CollegeMagdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, Oxford, in 1930, Ellis went to Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
to teach. Punch magazine first accepted a submission in 1931, and he left to become a staff writer on the magazine in 1933, the same year he married Barbara Hasseldine. Ellis became Literary and Deputy Editor in 1949, a post which he held until 1953, when he resigned in protest at the appointment of Malcolm Muggeridge
Malcolm Muggeridge
Thomas Malcolm Muggeridge was an English journalist, author, media personality, and satirist. During World War II, he was a soldier and a spy...
as editor. It was during this period that he developed the character of A.J. Wentworth, inspired by his experience as a schoolmaster, and The Papers of A.J. Wentworth B.A. were first published in book form in 1949.
Punch magazine continued to publish Ellis's work, but from 1954 he found a more lucrative market in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, where the Wentworth stories proved very popular.
The Wentworth stories were read out on the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
programme Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
by the actor Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. He was best known for playing Captain George Mainwaring in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 until 1977.-Early life:...
, who went on to play Wentworth in a BBC sitcom called AJ Wentworth BA in 1982. Only six episodes were made.
He was a rugby football
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
Blue at University, and subsequently played for the town of Richmond and for Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
H.F. Ellis died in Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
in 2000, but not before The Papers of A.J. Wentworth B.A. were republished by Prion Press.