Bill Spence

William John Duncan Spence (20 April 1923 – 28 May 2024) was an English writer. He wrote war novels as Duncan Spence, and Westerns as Jim Bowden, Floyd Rogers and Kirk Ford. He also used the pseudonym Hannah Cooper. His most successful novels have been historical romances written under the name Jessica Blair.

Life and career Spence was born in Middlesbrough on 20 April 1923. He worked as a schoolteacher from 1940 to 1943. His commission was confirmed and he was promoted to flying officer on 1 April 1944. He was promoted to flight lieutenant (war substantive) on 1 October 1945. He served as a bomber aimer in Avro Lancasters, completing 36 operations. He was a store manager from 1946 to 1977. Had he won, he would have been the first male writer to do so. He retired from writing in May 2020, aged 97, after suffering from a fall.

Spencer turned 100 on 20 April 2023, and died on 28 May 2024, at the age of 101.

Works