Thomas Clyde (film producer)

Tommy Clyde was born 24 June 1917, the second son of William Pancoast Clyde, Jr. and Dora Taylor Clyde, in Battle, Sussex, England.[1] He was baptized 9 August 1917 at St Jude's Church, Kensington.[1] His parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised by his mother,[2] who married Allan G. Kyle in 1925.

Clyde was educated at Eton College where he met Valerian Wellesley, grandson of the 4th Duke of Wellington.[2] He and Wellesley would become close friends while continuing their studies at the University of Oxford, and Clyde eventually began to date Wellesley's younger sister, Elizabeth.[2]

In the 1930s, Clyde rode “successfully” in several point-to-point Steeplechase races.[3]

Clyde served in the Royal Horse Guards, serving in the 2 HCR (Household Cavalry Regiment).[4] He retired from the Royal Army with the rank of captain, then worked in London as a film producer, working on the following films:[5]

• The Intruder (1953, Location Manager)
• The Colditz Story (1955, Production Manager)
• The Hostage (1956, Producer)
• Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958, Producer: in Association with)
• Moment of Danger (1960, Producer)
• Follow That Horse! (1960, Producer)
• Guns of Darkness (1962, Producer)
• Work is a 4-Letter Word (1968, Producer)
• Ghost in the Noonday Sun (1973, Executive Producer)

On 24 October 1939, Clyde announced his engagement to Elizabeth Wellesley, the only daughter of the 7th  Duke of Wellington.[6] They married on 18 November 1939 at St. Peter's Church, Vere Street, London with Elizabeth's brother, Valerian Wellesley, as best man.[7]

In October 1959, Elizabeth was awarded a divorce decree on the grounds of adultery, and was granted custody of the couple's youngest son.[8] The couple remained “close and supportive friends” until Clyde's death.[9]

Tommy and Elizabeth Clyde had three sons:[10]

• Michael Jeremy Thomas “Jeremy” Clyde (born 22 March 1941), actor and musician
• Robin Clyde (19 April 1943 – 13 February 1950)
•  William Jonathan “Jonathan” Clyde (born 27 May 1949)

Clyde married actress Mary Peach on 18 May 1961 at the Chelsea Registry Office, London.[11] They met on the set of the 1960 film Follow That Horse!, which Clyde produced.[12] The couple separated in the 1980s[13] and later divorced.

Tommy and Mary had two children:

• Andrew Clyde (born February 1963)
• Joanna Clyde (born 1965)