AN ADVENTURER who was born in Swindon has died at the age of 101 at his New York home.

Ralph Bates was born on November 3, 1899, and became a railway worker before going on to work as a Spanish docker, travelling mechanic, mountaineer, soldier and distinguished author.

He was a captain in the Spanish Civil War and later became a Professor of Literature at New York University.

Professor Bates was born in Morse Street into a working class family.

A gifted scholar, he became fluent in Spanish and French and at the age of 16 followed in his father's footsteps to get a job with the Great Western Railway.

He often recalled with pride that he had been part of the team that had restored the Lady of Lyons one of GWR's prize locomotives.

During World War One he served with the Royal West Surrey Regi-ment, and afterwards left Swindon to be a docker and seaman in Barcelona. Later he travelled on foot through Spain working as a mechanic and electrician.

He began writing in the 1930s, and his most famous work The Olive Field was acclaimed for its picture of rural life in southern Spain.

His widow Eve said: "Despite his many years living in the US my husband never became an American citizen, preferring to remain a British subject. He was overjoyed upon receiving a birthday greeting from Queen Elizabeth when he turned 100."