John Philip Thackray was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, the son of Ernest Thackray, a policeman, and Ivy May Thackray, née Armitage. He was educated at the Jesuit St. Michael's College in Leeds and St David's College, a Catholic boarding seminary in Dolgellau, north-west Wales. He considered joining the priesthood but instead chose to study English Literature and Language at Durham University.
