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Borrowed this character from a person I met early in my career who was descended from the Tancred's of North Yorkshire. He was a unique character with a personality never to forget. He was not a bounder or a cheat but he was a character.
Before his career in engineering, Sir Henry served in the RAF's Bomber Command at the end of the war, flying several missions in Lancaster Bombers over occupied Europe and Germany. His older brother, Andrew, was shot down and killed in 1944. Sir Henry inherited the Tancred baronetcy ahead of his twin brother who also served as a pilot during the war.
I have a habit of using my memories and encounters with real people in my stories.
I feel guilty sometimes but I never forgot this man. A gentleman.
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Names
Apparently, Ian Fleming went through the members lists of his gentleman's club to find names for his Bond villains.
Taught in Writing
"I have a habit of using my memories and encounters with real people in my stories."
That's a good habit, perhaps with creative alterations. They teach you to mine your experiences for writing ideas. One also mines one's reading for ideas as well. Igor Stravinsky: "Lesser artists borrow. Great artists steal." Apropos of this, John Williams stole from Stravinsky several times.
-- Daphne Xu (a page of contents)
Stealing and borrowing
Apropos of this, John Williams stole from Stravinsky several times
And these days, that would lead to you being sued into oblivion.
Even indirectly referencing someone from your past can lead to a law suit if they think their 'good' name is being sullied or used without their permission (and payment)...
Sad state of affairs we have today mostly down to lawyers who make up most politicians.
Come the ultimate revolution at the head of the queue for the firing squad will be all those politicians who are also lawyers. (I'm dreaming but it can't hurt to dream can it?)....
Samantha