He also wrote historical fiction ranging from the late Middle Ages to Edwardian England, and acquired a devoted readership on the Continent, particularly in Germany, where most of his books were translated.
[1] Born in Derby and educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry, Malpass, while writing in his spare time, worked for Barclays Bank in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
His first book, Beefy Jones, soon followed, and then Morning's at Seven which received good reviews, but poor sales in the UK.
The bank refused initially to accept his resignation, then said he would forfeit his pension and only changed its mind after very protracted discussions.
Married, with one son, two granddaughters and five great‑grandchildren, Malpass lived in Long Eaton until five years before his death, when he moved to Bishop's Waltham in Hampshire.