Jon Inglis was born into poverty in Newcastle, probably in 1920-1921, and was sent to an orphanage at the age of five when his mother who neglected the children in favour of living a life of a single women and alcohol dependant, could no longer cope with the children and his disabled sibling and abandoned them.
At the Barnardo"s orphanage, he experienced cold, hunger and abuse, he ran away to become the challenger in a mobile boxing booth. He joined the Pioneer Corps at outbreak of World World War II and was captured by the Germans during the retreat to Dunkirk. In consequence he spent the whole war in prison camps.
Escaping many times only to be caught again and returned to solitary confinement where he began writing poetry.
He later novelised his early life under the title Forever Endeavour. He went to live in London with no possessions, spending nights on the streets or sleeping under bridges, and speaking at Hyde Park"s Speaker"s Corner on the insubstantial nature of power and acquisition.
Aside from the novels, John Inglis wrote a very large corpus of philosophical aphorisms, together with poems, and plays. He was a recognised figure around Oxford in his latter years The majority of his great quantity of writings are held, though still unpublished, at the Oxfordshire Archives.
He joined the Pioneer Corps at outbreak of World World War II and was captured by the Germans during the retreat to Dunkirk.
In consequence he spent the whole war in prison camps, where he began writing poetry. He later novelised his early life under the title Forever Endeavour. After the war, he became a successful and respected businessman, but in the 1970s he left his home, his work and family to live in London with no possessions, spending nights on the streets or sleeping under bridges, and speaking at Hyde Park"s Speaker"s Corner on the insubstantial nature of power and acquisition.
Aside from the novels, John Inglis (Donaldson) wrote a very large corpus of philosophical aphorisms, together with poems, and plays.
He was a recognised figure around Oxford in his latter years, and the majority of his great quantity of writings are held, though still unpublished, at the Oxfordshire Archives. The poet Kathleen Raine wrote to John"s wife:
"John Inglis was indeed a brave and remarkable manitoba
There is real vision in his poems. I can understand what was in John"s mind when he gave himself totally to seeking to bring about the only revolution that can change the world, A CHANGE OF HEART Indiana PEOPLE, ordinary people everywhere.".
