Les Whitehouse first showed an interest in Aeronautics and Astronomy at five years old, building his first aircraft model at eight. With relatives at the factory, inevitably BPA would become a key interest. Not selected to fly in the RAF when completing O-levels, he fell back on an apprenticeship with BPA subject to obtaining A-levels. On completion of this student apprenticeship with BPA and the re-named company Dowty Boulton Paul, a career in technical/project engineering wales and marketing followed. This covered many Industrial, Aerospace, Naval and Military electro-hydraulic systems projects and their post-sales support. Because of his historical knowledge and ability, he was tasked by the managing Director with becoming volunteer advisor on company history. He was responsible for saving many documents from destruction and marshalling them into safe storage well before the Historical Association was conceived and formed, and in rescuing and adding to the original company records from his town personal collection. He is currently a life member of the Boulton Paul Association and archivist for the Association's collection, while retaining his own personal archive.

A lifetime member of the International Plastic Modelers Society, this volume has been a long awaited attempt to accurately document the airframe "own design" projects of the two companies. He is currently part time Technical Manager of the UK design and installation division of a world renowned environmental netting and play equipment company.