John Gardner, who died on 3 August, 2007, aged 81, was an experienced author who masterminded several new adventures for the fictional character James Bond.

An author of more than 50 thrillers, Mr Gardner’s love of mystery, suspense and adventure shone through in his stories. His novels allowed readers to delve into a dark world of espionage, and he was often described as being “undoubtedly one of Britain’s most talented thriller writers.”

His revival of James Bond was enough to bring him new fans as well as some devoted followers who had fond memories of the character’s adventures since his inception in Ian Fleming’s cult novels.

Experiences in his own life, including a short spell in the Royal Navy, proved an inspiration in his storytelling and his love of writing thrillers from the 1960s onwards coincided with a surge of popularity in spy adventures amongst the general public.

John Edmund Gardner was born on 20 November, 1926, in Seaton Deleval, Northumberland. Introduced to books as a child, Mr Gardner announced his intentions to become a writer when he was only eight years old.

Rather than shunning the young boy’s dreams, his father encouraged him to pursue a career as a writer supplying him with a notepad in which to scribble down some of his early story ideas.

When the Second World War broke out Gardner was 14 years old, and at 17 he volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm. He later switched to the Royal Navy, completing his service in 1945 with the Royal Marines.

Recalling his experiences of the war Mr Gardner admitted that “my generation was one of those whose lives, attitudes and outlooks have been forever shaped by the events of World War II.”

At the climax of the war, Mr Gardner put his love of writing further on hold as he attended University at both Cambridge and Oxford before unadvisedly becoming a priest with the Church of England.

His first attempt at writing came as surprise when he released a non-fiction book, Spin the Bottle (1964), openly confessing his experiences as an alcoholic. Eventually turning his back on the priesthood he joined the Stratford-upon-Avon Herald newspaper as a drama critic.

Mr Gardner, still in his early 30s, began to find his feet as a writer. He sent the first few chapters of his draft novel The Liquidator to his agent only to be told that it was truly dreadful. On his agent’s advice he rewrote the story as a comedy rather than a drama becoming a best selling author in the process.

Releasing a number of thrillers as a full time writer, including The Moriarty Journals, a popular spin on Sherlock Holmes’ archenemy, he was approached to write the first of 14 new James Bond adventures, the first of which - Licence Renewed - was published in 1981.

Apprehension surrounded the challenge of penning a collection of stories about a character who had been already brilliantly brought to life by fellow author Ian Fleming. But with the support of the publishers and an enthusiastic readership Mr Gardner’s Bond stories became a huge success.

Mr Gardner moved to the US in 1989 and in 1995 was taken ill. After a five-year break following the death of his wife, Margaret, in 1997 he returned to writing, noting that “I have spent some forty years telling stories and delineating characters. I am not about to give up now.”

Keeping his word, Mr Gardner published several novels set in the 1940s, including Days of Absolution in 2001 and still enjoyed the experience of writing after returning to the UK and spending his final years in Basingstoke.

A proud author who admitted that his “contribution to the Bond Saga played a great part in its development” Gardner died in hospital.