John Leslie Glaister DFC (21 December 1915 – 5 February 2005), known as Gerard or Gerrard Glaister,London Gazette, various editions 1939-1952 was a British television producer and director best known for his work with the BBC. Amongst his most notable successes as a producer were Colditz, The Brothers, Secret Army and Howards' Way.
Biography After studying at RADA, Glaister made his West End debut in 1939. With the outbreak of war, he joined the Royal Air Force, commissioned as Pilot Officer on 8 September 1939 and initially flying a Blenheim bomber. He later served as a photo reconnaissance pilot in 208 Squadron RAF in the Western Desert, initially flying Westland Lysanders. It was during these latter duties that he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 6 October 1942, for a hazardous reconnaissance flight in an unarmed Hurricane at extremely low level across the Italian front line. He rose to the rank of Squadron Leader and retired from the RAF on 5 August 1952 (for medical reasons).London Gazette, various editions 1939 to 1952 Glaister later drew on his RAF experiences when, in 1963, he produced Moonstrike, a drama about resistance agents in occupied Europe during the Second World War. From 1962, he worked on the popular Dr. Finlay's Casebook. His 1968 production The Expert is based on the work of his uncle, forensic scientist Prof John Glaister FRSE.
Glaister's success ended with the 1991 series Trainer, which was moved from prime time to a weeknight slot because of its perceived failure. However, it sold well overseas.
Glaister was married three times and had three daughters, two from his final marriage, to Joan.
Filmography
Producer 1958: Starr and Company 1958: Big Guns 1959: The Widow of Bath 1959: The Men From Room 13 1962: The Dark Island 1962: Dr. Finlay's Casebook 1963: Moonstrike 1967: The Revenue Men 1968: The Expert 1970: Codename 1971: The Passenger 1972: The Long Chase 1972: The Brothers 1972: Colditz 1975: Oil Strike North 1977: The Mackinnons 1977: Secret Army 1979: The Fourth Arm 1980: Buccaneer 1981: Blood Money 1981: Kessler 1983: Skorpion 1984: Cold Warrior 1984: Morgan's Boy 1985: Howards' Way 1991: Trainer
Writer 1968: The Expert 1972: The Brothers 1972: Colditz 1975: Oil Strike North 1975: You're On Your Own 1977: Secret Army 1979: The Fourth Arm 1985: Howards' Way
Director 1962: The Set Up 1962 The Share Out 1962: The Dark Island 1962: Dr. Finlay's Casebook 1966: King of the River 1968: The Expert 1970: Codename 1975: Oil Strike North
References
External links
Obituary Screen online