About the editor

Edmund J.A. Stone (born January 13, 1946, in Abergavenny, Wales) is a Canadian editor, playwright, and entrepreneur, known for his work in reviving and editing the unpublished works of his father, the British crime novelist and BBC playwright Austin Stone. Based in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, Ed has been active in the preservation of his father’s literary and dramatic legacy, particularly through radio play adaptations and posthumous publications.

Early Life and Education

Stone was born in Abergavenny Hospital, Monmouthshire, Wales, and spent much of his early childhood in Malvern, Worcestershire. His father, Austin Stone, was an established author and dramatist, while his mother, Josephine, passed away when he was thirteen, a loss that deeply influenced his outlook on life.

He attended Mill Lane Primary School and later Malvern Chase Secondary School, before leaving at age 15 to begin work with the Morgan Motor Company in Malvern Link.

Early Career in England

In the early 1960s, Stone held technical and mechanical roles with the Stone–Chance Company, where his father also worked. He later transitioned into electrical engineering and sales, eventually taking on sales representative roles for Stone–Platt Industries. His career in the electrical industry saw him work in several regions across England, including Crawley and Market Drayton.

In 1968, Stone married Valerie Partridge at Malvern Priory Church. The couple had two children  Tracey Josephine (born 1969) and Vincent Michael (born 1971).

Immigration to Canada

In 1974, Stone and his family emigrated from the United Kingdom to Canada, settling first in Vancouver and later in Abbotsford, British Columbia. His early work in Canada included positions with Elworthy Electrical Company, Reliance Electric, and Emerson Electric, where he specialized in industrial power and control systems, as Western Canada regional sales manager.

In 1988, following corporate restructuring at Emerson, Stone founded Compu-Power Controls Inc., a company providing computer backup systems and electrical control solutions. Under his management, the company grew to over $3 million in annual revenue before being acquired by Exide Electronics in the mid-1990s.

He later established Ed Stone & Associates Ltd., continuing to work as a consultant and sales representative in the power systems industry.

Theatrical and Editorial Work

After retiring from corporate life, Stone shifted his focus to the arts and heritage preservation. He became an active member of The Players Guild, a community theatre group in British Columbia, where he produced and performed five of his father’s original BBC radio plays:

• French Poison
• An Affair of Honour
• A Pearl in the Hand
• Mystery in Pimlico
• The Gallows Does Well

A sixth play, Beautiful for Ever, is scheduled to premiere in January 2026.

In addition to his theatrical work, Stone edited and prepared the posthumous release of his father’s previously unpublished manuscript, Missing, Murder Suspected: A True Crime Trilogy — written by Austin Stone in 1975. The book, which reconstructs three historical British murder cases, represents the continuation of Austin Stone’s legacy through Edmund’s editorial stewardship.

Personal Life

Stone resides in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, with his wife Valerie. He remains involved in theatre, writing, and genealogy research.

His extensive genealogical work on the Stone and Le Motte’e families tracing their roots back to 12th-century England and the Channel Islands has been documented through Ancestry.co.uk and local historical societies. His research uncovered ties to notable historical figures, including William de Tracey, one of the knights involved in the 1170 assassination of Thomas Becket, and Frederick Corbin Lukis, a 19th-century archaeologist from Guernsey. Ed has written several articles for the BC Genealogical Society, including his recent findings of cousins in Australia.

Legacy

Through his editorial and dramatic efforts, Edmund J.A. Stone has played a key role in reviving his father Austin Stone’s contributions to British true crime and radio drama. His dual career as both an engineer and editor reflects a lifelong balance between analytical precision and creative storytelling.