Teddy Pilley facts for kids

Teddy (Thadée) Pilley was a very talented person who understood and spoke many languages. He worked as a linguist and a conference interpreter, helping people from different countries talk to each other.

Early Life and Family

Teddy Pilley was born in Paris, France, on March 7, 1909. His original name was Ari Thaddeus Pilichowski. His parents, Leopold and Lena, were both skilled artists. They were Jewish and had moved from Poland to France.

Teddy had two sisters, Maia and Thea, and one brother, Vivien. When Teddy was four years old, his family moved from Paris to London, England. He lived in London for the rest of his life. Later, Teddy married Nora Sachs, and they had a son named Peter.

Education and Learning

Teddy went to school at Merchant Taylors' School in London. After that, he studied at St John's College, Oxford, a famous university. He earned a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, often called PPE.

Working During World War II

During the Second World War, Teddy Pilley joined the RAF, which is the air force of the United Kingdom. He became a squadron leader, a high rank.

First, he was stationed at RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland. There, he flew with No. 245 Squadron.

Secret Work at Bletchley Park

Later in the war, Teddy was moved to Bletchley Park. This was a top-secret place where British codebreakers worked. He stayed there for the rest of the war.

At Bletchley Park, Teddy worked in a special section called Air Intelligence, located in Hut 3. His job was to translate, sort, and decide which messages were most important. These messages were from the German air force, called the Luftwaffe. They had been secretly listened to and then decoded using special machines like the Bombe and Enigma machines.

A Career in Interpreting

After the war, Teddy Pilley became very well known as a linguist and conference interpreter. He mostly interpreted between French and English, as French was his first language. He could also speak German and Dutch very well, and he knew a bit of several other European languages.

Organizing Interpreting Teams

Teddy was famous for organizing and finding teams of simultaneous interpreters for big international meetings all over the world. He ran a group called the International Conference Secretariat.

In the 1950s, many places where conferences were held did not have good equipment for interpreters. So, Teddy created his own portable equipment. It included microphones, headphones, and all the wires and electronics needed. This equipment could be moved easily to set up temporary interpreting booths. Teddy called this special equipment Archie, named after a famous puppet.

Founding Important Organizations

Teddy Pilley helped start two very important groups for language experts:

• The International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC).
• The Institute of Linguists.

He also owned and ran The Linguists’ Club in London. This was a club where people could practice languages and socialize.

Training New Interpreters

At The Linguists’ Club, Teddy started "working parties." These were special training sessions for people who wanted to become interpreters. First, he would check if they were good at languages and if they had a natural talent for interpreting. If they passed, they would then be trained in the skills needed to be a professional interpreter.

Recognition and Awards

In his later years, the French Government honored Teddy Pilley. They recognized him as an Officier d’Académie for his great contributions and services to France.