North West schoolboy attributes success to secondary teacher

A secondary teacher in Blackburn has been cited as the secret to success for one former schoolboy with stars in his eyes.

David Ambrose was set to study law at Oxford University until an inspirational secondary teacher of English at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School helped him realise his true dream of becoming a successful writer.

Returning to the school for the first time in 45 years, Mr Ambrose told the Lancashire Telegraph: "I started writing at school mainly thanks to a wonderful English teacher, Tom Crehan, who would come into class and encourage us to think for ourselves."

The influence of his secondary teacher led Mr Ambrose to pursue a successful and satisfying screenwriting career.

He tells the newspaper one of his finest hours came when he penned the screenplay for the 1968 Hollywood movie The Fight for Rome, starring Orson Welles, Honor Blackman and Laurence Harvey.

The film tells the tale of Roman leader Cethegus, who travels to Byzantium in an attempt to raise an army.

Posted by Theo Foulds



Published On 23/02/2010