About Raymond Thompson
Raymond Thompson, 75, British-born Canadian-New Zealand screenwriter, composer and producer.
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Full Biography
|Raymond Webster Thompson MNZM (5 April 1949 - 15 January 2025) was a British-born Canadian-New Zealand screenwriter, composer and producer.
Early life and career
Thompson was born in Redditch, Worcestershire and grew up in Windsor, Berkshire where he formed a school band with David Samuels, Keith Barnes and Ray Dorey who went on to become guitarist with Edison Lighthouse. He studied drama at York University and embarked upon a successful career in the music industry as both a songwriter and musician. His groups include a Canadian duo called Stillwater, and his school band The Avengers, which evolved into Edison Lighthouse, who had the number one record "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)".
With the BBC
Thompson published a novel in 1979, The Number to Call Is... before becoming a script consultant for various producers. His television writing credits include Squadron and the iconic Howards' Way, which ran for six years and was considered to be one of the BBC's most loved drama series, drawing huge ratings. He acquired the position of Head of Development for BBC Television Drama Series and worked on many other titles, including Bergerac and The House of Eliott.
Cloud 9
In 1994 and in association with the Sanctuary Group PLC, Thompson founded his own production company, the Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group, which has since specialized in family entertainment. The company trades through offices in London, Wellington (New Zealand), and has expanded into the Australian market. Southern Star currently distribute the substantial back catalogue.
Since 1994, Thompson has created and produced several television series and movies, including The Enid Blyton Adventure Series, The Enid Blyton Secret Series, The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson (starring Richard Thomas), Return to Treasure Island, The Legend of William Tell (created by Thompson), William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale (also created by Thompson). Other series Thompson created include Atlantis High, Revelations – The Initial Journey, and The New Tomorrow.
Perhaps his best known creation is the teen drama/sci-fi hybrid The Tribe, which has become a cult classic around the world and ran for five years with almost three hundred episodes being produced. The series is constantly being repeated and has a fanatical fan base.
In 2001, he returned to his music roots and composed the soundtracks of Cloud 9's portfolio, as well as the Spirit Symphony, which was partly inspired by his Asperger syndrome. It was performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and released on CD in 2004. The proceeds of the song "With You Every Step of the Way" (also composed by Raymond) were donated to the foundation.
Honours
Thompson has been a juror at BAFTA and the International Emmy Awards. In the 2003 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to television and entertainment. In the same year he also received an honours award at Dragon*Con.
Personal life
Thompson had Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum condition. Thompson's son was also diagnosed. Thompson founded the Cloud 9's Children Foundation, which aims to support families in Oceania affected by Asperger syndrome.
A wine lover, Thompson owned Tirohana Estate, a boutique New Zealand vineyard on the outskirts of Martinborough, in the Wairarapa region.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Thompson
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Raymond Thompson's archived record and the sources above.
1.Which orchestra performed the Spirit Symphony composed by Raymond Webster Thompson?
- A.Australian Chamber Orchestra
- B.New Zealand Symphony Orchestracorrect
- C.BBC Philharmonic
- D.London Symphony Orchestra
The Spirit Symphony was performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and released on CD in 2004.
Source: Cloud 9 section
2.What award did Raymond Webster Thompson receive in the 2003 New Year Honours?
- A.International Emmy Award
- B.Member of the New Zealand Order of Meritcorrect
- C.Order of the British Empire
- D.Knight Bachelor
In the 2003 New Year Honours, Raymond Webster Thompson was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Source: Honours section
3.What specific goal does the Cloud 9 Children's Foundation aim to achieve?
- A.Support families in Oceania affected by Asperger syndromecorrect
- B.Provide scholarships for music students in Canada
- C.Promote screenwriting in the United Kingdom
- D.Fund vineyard research in New Zealand
The Cloud 9 Children's Foundation aims to support families in Oceania affected by Asperger syndrome.
Source: Personal life section
4.What is the name of the boutique New Zealand vineyard owned by Raymond Webster Thompson?
- A.Tirohana Estatecorrect
- B.Windsor Vineyards
- C.Cloud 9 Estate
- D.Redditch Winery
Raymond Webster Thompson owned Tirohana Estate, a boutique New Zealand vineyard on the outskirts of Martinborough.
Source: Personal life section
5.Which television series did Raymond Webster Thompson create that starred William Shatner?
- A.A Twist in the Talecorrect
- B.The New Tomorrow
- C.The Legend of William Tell
- D.Atlantis High
William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale was a series created by Raymond Webster Thompson.
Source: Cloud 9 section
6.Besides being a screenwriter and producer, what other professional role did Raymond Webster Thompson hold in the music industry?
- A.Music critic
- B.Concert promoter
- C.Composercorrect
- D.Sound engineer
Raymond Webster Thompson was a screenwriter, composer, and producer.
Source: Biography introduction
7.Where is the Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group located according to the text?
- A.London and Wellingtoncorrect
- B.Only in London
- C.New York and Paris
- D.Redditch and Windsor
The company trades through offices in London and Wellington (New Zealand).
Source: Cloud 9 section
8.What company currently distributes the substantial back catalogue of the Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group?
- A.Southern Starcorrect
- B.Sanctuary Group PLC
- C.BBC Worldwide
- D.New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Southern Star currently distributes the substantial back catalogue of Cloud 9.
Source: Cloud 9 section
9.In what town was Raymond Webster Thompson born?
- A.Redditchcorrect
- B.Windsor
- C.Wellington
- D.London
Raymond Webster Thompson was born in Redditch, Worcestershire.
Source: Early life and career section
10.Which university did Raymond Webster Thompson attend to study drama?
- A.Oxford University
- B.York Universitycorrect
- C.University of Wellington
- D.Cambridge University
Raymond Webster Thompson studied drama at York University.
Source: Early life and career section
11.What is the title of the novel Raymond Webster Thompson published in 1979?
- A.The Number to Call Is...correct
- B.The House of Eliott
- C.A Twist in the Tale
- D.The Tribe
Raymond Webster Thompson published a novel titled The Number to Call Is... in 1979.
Source: With the BBC section
12.Which BBC television series was Raymond Webster Thompson involved with as a script consultant or producer?
- A.Howards' Waycorrect
- B.EastEnders
- C.Sherlock
- D.Doctor Who
Raymond Webster Thompson's television writing credits include the iconic BBC drama series Howards' Way.
Source: With the BBC section
13.In what year did Raymond Webster Thompson found the Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group?
- A.1979
- B.1994correct
- C.2001
- D.2003
Raymond Webster Thompson founded the Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group in 1994.
Source: Cloud 9 section
14.Which actor starred in The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson produced by Raymond Webster Thompson?
- A.Keith Barnes
- B.William Shatner
- C.David Samuels
- D.Richard Thomascorrect
The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson, produced by Raymond Webster Thompson, starred Richard Thomas.
Source: Cloud 9 section
15.What medical condition inspired Raymond Webster Thompson's composition of the Spirit Symphony?
- A.Dyslexia
- B.ADHD
- C.Asperger syndromecorrect
- D.Anxiety
The Spirit Symphony was partly inspired by Raymond Webster Thompson's Asperger syndrome.
Source: Cloud 9 section
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