Leslie Retallick was born in Hornchurch, Essex but his family moved to Rugby in Warwickshire when he was six. While still at school he discovered a passion for history hen he took part in an archaeological excavation at the nearby Roman site of Tripontium. The family moved again, when he was in his late teens, to Torquay, where his parents ran a corner shop and where he still lives. Several years later, he took a summer seasonal job at Torre Abbey, an historic house and art gallery in Torquay, which led to a full-time senior post during a 36-year association with that building. There he expanded his interest in local history and has had a number of books and articles published on the subject. He is a keen photographer and video maker and is passionate about the conservation of what remains of Torquay's past.