R J Unstead
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert John Unstead (21 Nov, 1915 – 5 May, 1988) was a British historian and prolific author of history books, most written for young readers.
Unstead went to Dover Grammar School for Boys in Kent, England, from 1926 to 1934 where he was a prefect and house captain, captain of cricket, vice-captain of soccer and in the school rugby team. He gained Advanced Level passes in History, English, Latin and French. He left school to go to Goldsmiths College where he trained to be a teacher.
His teaching career, begun in 1936, was interrupted by the Second World War when he volunteered for the Royal Air Force and became a physical training instructor. Later he became an operations room controller and joined Combined Operations for the Normandy landings before service in Greece, Italy and France.
After the war, Unstead resumed his teaching career and later became headmaster of a primary school in Hertfordshire. He began to develop ideas for writing history books with pictures that would appeal to the young. Some of his books sold by the million and were read worldwide.
He was married to Florence and they had three daughters together. He was chairman of local school governors and had interests in golf, gardening and cricket.
His funeral service was held on Wednesday 11th May, 1988 in the Parish Church of St. Andrew, Aldringham, Suffolk.
