Wilbert V. Awdry

Wilbert Vere Awdry OBE was an English Anglican clergyman, railway enthusiast, and children's author, best known as the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine and the Railway Series. He was born on June 15, 1911, in Ampfield, Hampshire, England, and was inspired by the nearby Great Western Railway. Awdry began writing stories for his son Christopher during an illness in 1942, leading to the publication of 'The Three Railway Engines' in 1945. The series, which features anthropomorphic trains on the fictional island of Sodor, became a bestseller and was adapted into the popular television series 'Thomas & Friends'. Awdry also authored a guide to steam railways in Britain and was involved in railway preservation. He was awarded an OBE in 1996 and died on March 21, 1997, in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England.