Bruce C. Windo

Bruce Windo is a mystery. He was a paperback cover artist who worked for Pan, Panther and Arrow Books in the 1950s and contributed articles on cars to Look and Learn in the late 1960s but, apart from the fact that he was born in Kent in 1920, I've been able to find nothing about him or his career.

Update: 31 January 2010
A few more snippets have emerged. Windo was the son of Percy Carrington Windo. Percy was born in 1871 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, the son of John Carrington Windo, and was married in 1895, aged 23, in Bristol to 28-year-old Emily Martin, daughter of Samuel Martin. Percy was a school master and the couple had three children: Doris Emily (b. Bath, Avon, Somerset, 1896; married Francis W. Whitton in 1920), Beatrice Carrie (b. Bath, Avon, Somerset, 1897; married George W. Whitton in 1921) and Gertrude Jeannie (b. Singleton, Sussex, 1901; married Reginald O. Melling in 1934) by the time of the 1901 census. At that time they were running Bay School, in Singleton, Sussex. Percy Eric Windo followed on 16 June 1902, born in Tendring, Essex.

Emily Windo died in Strood, Kent, in 1906 at the early age of 39, possibly giving birth of Reginald Oscar Windo who died at birth or shortly thereafter. Percy was remarried to Gertrude Mabel Melling in Strood, Kent, in 1908. Gertrude was born in Singleton, Sussex, in 1877, the daughter of Henry and Emily Melling, and had been living with the Windos at the time of the 1901 census.

Percy was head teacher of Meopham Primary School between 1902 and 1934; he was described as "very talented at handicrafts and drawing and the pupils craftwork reached a high standard," which may in part explain where his son Bruce's talents came from. Percy also served as Parish Clerk.

Percy died in Eastbourne, Sussex, in 1955, aged 83. Gertrude died in Eastbourne, Sussex, in 1968, aged 93.


(* Rolls Royce illustration from original artwork © Look and Learn Magazine Ltd.)