Jeremy Howard-Williams was a member of the RAF during the Second World War and until 1958. On leaving the RAF, he entered the sailing industry and wrote a number of books about sailing and related topics, and also recorded his wartime memories in 'Night Intruder'. After retirement he lectured widely both at home and abroad on his principal subjects of sailing, aviation and the Second World War.

A devotee of the crossword puzzle since childhood, he took an American crossword dictionary which has sold over a million copies at his lead, and decided to try his hand. From then on he noted down inter-esting clues as he did 'The Times, The Daily Telegraph' and 'The Sunday Times' crosswords, amongst others. In 'The Compete Crossword Companion' he has tried to include an example of each one. He died in September 1995 after battling bravely against cancer, while working on the amendments for the fifth edition of the 'Companion'