I recently visited Wikipedia regarding Kilwinning history. The web page included a list of famous people with connections to the town. The name of Hugh McLeave, Author, Journalist and scholar was missing.

Born in 1923 he grew up in the Corsehill in humble circumstances. Most folk in this area suffered poverty and depredation.

In his youth he worked locally in various jobs including bricklaying.

The army recognised his talents during WW2 and he was selected for officer training, progressing to the rank of captain in the artillery.

In 1949 he graduated from Glasgow University  with a degree in History and Modern Languages.

He moved to London where he enjoyed a successful career as a fleet street journalist initially as a news correspondent covering current affairs and crime. more specialised work followed when assignments included investigating important developments in medicine and science. He was present in this capacity at a Hydrogen Bomb test in the Pacific in 1957.

During the course of his work he met and interviewed many famous celebrities from all walks of life. People who were prominent on the world stage in those times including Robert Oppenheimer the director of the Manhattan Project,Karl Fuchs the spy, Jonas Salk the medical pioneer who produced the first polio vaccine and other personalities involved in the development of heart surgery. He had a keen interest in Jazz and the Arts and while in America he met famous musicians including Coleman Hawkins the great jazz saxophonist.

He wrote many works of fact and fiction. He was the author of twenty three novels some of which are still available here in our local library and are in fact listed on Wikipedia.

In later life he researched the lives of Cezanne and the writer Emile Zola.

He spent his latter years in Menton in the South of France where he died aged 85 in 2008.

He spoke five languages.

It must have taken exceptionial ability to advance from lowly beginnings as he did.

I was brought up in the Corsehill during the nineteen forties. I can appreciate his acheivements and I think this man should be recognised in his home town.