Ward Thomas (television executive)

Gwyn Edward "Ward" Thomas, CBE, DFC, CdeG (born 1 August 1923) is a British television executive, who was at the forefront of independent television in the UK from the 1960s through to the mid-1990s. He was CEO of Grampian Television (1961-7) and Managing Director & Chairman of Yorkshire Television (1967–76, 1993-7), and Chairman of Trident Television (1976–84).

Ward Thomas was born in Wimbledon, London, the only child of Constance Thomas (née Daborn) (1900–97) and William Thomas. He was educated at Bloxham School, Oxfordshire (1935-9). He spent a year abroad at the Lycée in Rouen until the German invasion of France in May 1940, when he had to escape on the ferry from St Malo.

Ward Thomas joined RAF Bomber Command in 1941 and trained as a navigator and pilot in South Africa. He joined 100 Squadron as a Lancaster pilot and was later moved to 550 Squadron stationed in Grimsby. He flew 36 trips over France and Germany over the course of the war, including taking part in the Nuremberg raid of March 1944 during which Bomber Command suffered its heaviest loses. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his involvement in bombing raids in advance of the Normandy landings in June 1944 and also received the DFC. By the time he left the RAF Ward Thomas had achieved the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

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