 Townsend was born in Leeds and educated at Leeds Grammar School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge.His popular works include "Gumble's Yard", his debut novel published in 1961; "Widdershins Crescent" (1965); and "The Intruder" (1969), which won the 1971 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America.In Britain, "The Intruder" was adapted as a children's TV series starring Milton Johns as the stranger.