Barrington Chendy


Barrington Chendy (1904 -1979) was probably best known in Britain as the author of the Inspector Cumulus novels but his story starts much earlier than that. After being expelled from Eton in 1917 Chendy used the benefits of being independently wealthy to "swan around" Europe for the next 30 years successfully managing to never take part in the second World War (apart from a table tennis tournament at Hitler's weekend retreat where he formed part of a doubles team with Oswald Mosley).

Returning to Britain in the post war years he penned an incredible 475 pulp crimes novels. "A Bouquet of Death" was made into a film in 1956 starring Michael Redgrave and Bernard Breslaw in a rare straight role as psychotic drag queen, Big Jill. Chendy later scandalised Britain in 1968 as being the first person to use the word "twonk" on live television. He spent the last years of his life scripting low budget British sex comedies such as "No Sex Please We're Aquatic" and "Bella Bounce - the Naughty Auditor".

He died in 1979 of "complications arising from advanced apathy". His memoir "I Really Can't Be Bothered" was unfinished at the time of his death.

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6 Response to "Barrington Chendy"

  1. Unknown says:

    Hahaha!
    Lovely work sir.

    mr edwards, you crack me up!

    Unknown says:

    Haha, very good. Welcome aboard!

    Thanks, everyone. It's a pleasure to take part. It's a great blog. Here's something else you may be interested in -
    http://jonathan-e.blogspot.com/2009/02/spotlight-on-pop.html

    Dan Berry says:

    Lovely work Jonathan - welcome aboard!

    great stuff :)

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