You are in:
- Contents » Heroes and Villains
Bond, James Bond
On 28 May, the creator of agent 007 - Ian Fleming - celebrated his 100th birthday.
Sadly, Mr Fleming did not live long enough to witness the ultimate incredible success of his invention; the best-known espionage agent in the world: Bond. (James was the M I 6 spy-character that he found in his experience and imagination.)
Ian Fleming, a scion of a famous City merchant bank by the name of Fleming, died prematurely at the age of 56 of a heart attack in 1964.
Last month the centenary of Fleming's birth began to be commemorated by Royal Mail postage stamps and a substantial exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in south London.
In real life, Fleming wanted to join the Foreign Office. He was refused. Instead, His Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) accepted his application.
His best-known adventure in the Second World War was to organise a plot against Nazi German spies. He was based with his team at Gibraltar. The code-name for the mission was: 'Goldeneye'. (The opperation was a triumph and helped foil German U-boats).
The reference 'Goldeneye' was later used as a title for a James Bond film with Pierce Brosnan is the leading role.
After having become increasingly wealthy because of the sales of his novels, he retired to Jamaica and built a colonial-style mansion on the north of the island (which this correspondent has visited). Next to the former Fleming residence there is a golden, sandy bay which has the official title: James Bond Beach.
For your eyes only: The best we can say in literary, cinematic and espionage terms, is that Ian certainly had a license to kill.
