No. 30 July 2011 ------ Particular

The Dickens Fellowship Newsletter ______

humour has named a 4-wheel tipper with a new body ANDREW XAVIER and crane ‘Little Dorrit’ and ‘the Fat Boy’ is a light vehicle. A recently restored vehicle is named ‘Dr Members will be shocked and saddened to Alexandre Manette’. Keep an eye open for them, hear that Andrew Xavier, former curator and anyone in the west country! director of the Museum, has died. He was knocked down by a car whilst working in ****** Saudi Arabia, teaching English. Our A Dickens Descendant Ethel Dickens (1864 – 1936), sympathies go out to his family and friends. was the second of junior’s eight children. James Agate (1877 – 1947), dramatic critic and journalist, who employed her to do some John Sullivan , creator of the popular TV series ‘Only typing, described her as “a retiring little lady who Fools and Horses’, died recently. He is quoted as used to type J M Barrie’s plays, and so much hated saying he hated school in Balham, London, except for trading on her grandfather’s fame that I did not those classes where an eccentric one-eyed English discover the relationship for more than a year.” teacher inspired him with a love of Dickens by acting Agate called her “the nicest but closest human out scenes from and . being he had ever dealt with”. Apparently her One obituary suggested that the coterie of eccentric, typewriter was so antiquated that it took a taxi- droll and grotesque low-life characters in ‘Only Fools’ driver and Agate’s manservant all their time and even invited comparison with those of Dickens. effort to get it into the house. (Having given this a bit of thought, all I could come up with was “Trigger”, played by Roger Lloyd Pack, ****** whose penchant for making sudden and completely The King’s Head, One of the earliest events th irrelevant remarks put me in mind of Mr F’s Aunt from of the Fellowship took place on 18 June 1903, when Little Dorrit.....Ed.) the famous actor, Bransby Williams, gave a ****** performance of Dickens characters at the King’s Head, Wedding Cake DF member Derek Hyde sent in an Chigwell, the ‘Maypole’ of . Williams article from (4 th May): “I imagine it gained countrywide fame in the early days of TV in the must be a pain being called Miss Havisham, ‘50s with his Dickens portrayals. The King’s Head is especially if you get married. Some compensation is now a restaurant owned by Sir Alan Sugar. Anyone now being offered from the unlikely quarter of the fancy a job as an apprentice waiter? Royal Society of Chemistry, which is looking for a woman with the maiden name Havisham to recount ****** her successful wedding day. The Society is marking DICKENS PUB WRECKED - One of Dickens’s the 150 th anniversary of Great Expectations by favourite pubs was severely damaged in March by recreating Miss Havisham’s mouldering wedding- arsonists. The ‘Crispin and Crispianus’ in Strood, cake, and it wants someone to give it to!” Kent, is three miles from Gad’s Hill and Dickens (Complete with mice and spiders, I trust!) sometimes had a drink there. He mentions it in the essay “Tramps” from “The Uncommercial Traveller”. ****** ‘So should we lie that night at the ancient sign of the Dickens Lorries - “Dickensian” subscribers may recall Crispin and Crispanus (sic), and rise early next reading about the haulage company, Moreton morning to be betimes on tramp again.’ St Crispin and Cullimore, of Stroud, Gloucestershire, who name their St Crispianus were said to have been the Christian sons lorries after Dickens characters and print the names on of a British prince, living in Canterbury, who was the side of their distinctive green and red vehicles. executed by the emperor Carausius. The sons then fled Latest news is that ‘Tony Weller’, ‘Sir Leicester towards London, but stopped at Faversham outside a Dedlock’, ‘Mr Stryver’ and ‘Sir Mulberry Hawk’ are shoemaker’s workshop. The workers sounded so jolly, now “off the road”, but someone with a fine sense of they decided to stay and lived to become champion shoemakers themselves. Well, that’s the story......

Fellowship website: www.dickensfellowship.org “Dickens Therapy” (recommended for use in Nupkins (aka Mrs Eileen Lawson, the delightful hospitals) - Jemima Lewis, a Daily Telegraph hostess), Mrs Bardell, Mrs Dowler etc, and was columnist, wrote (7.4.11) that during a recent hospital treated to a sumptuous lunch, which Mr stay, she happened to have a copy of Oliver Twist in himself would have been proud to attend. Many her bag and read it all before returning home. She thanks again to them and very best wishes to their was so happy in Dickens’s world, and so distracted thriving society. from her woes by the cacophonous company of orphans, pickpockets, hypocrites, do-gooders and murderers, that she didn’t want to leave it. So when SOME FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR she got home, she kept reading until she had worked DIARY:- her way through the entire canon. Sunday, 11 th September – Michael Slater in ****** conversation with Sam Leith , former literary Cleveland Street Workhouse – The workhouse editor of , 3 – 4 p.m. at the referred to in March’s London Particular has been London Jewish Cultural Centre, 94 – 96 North saved from demolition. The building in Cleveland End Road, NW11. Details and bookings on Street, Fitzrovia, London, has now been given www.hamhighlitfest.com or 020 8511 7900. Grade II listing by the government and its architectural and historical interest must now be Saturday, 17 th September – Dickens and considered in any development plans. Turner Walk – Visit the watercolour exhibition at Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate; ****** then follow the designated Dickens and Turner STORM IN AN INKWELL - Many members were footpath to Broadstairs (four miles flat shocked, when watching a recent edition of ‘Antiques walking). Tour the Dickens House Museum Road Show’ on TV, to hear an ‘expert’, examining an and reward yourself with a cream tea! Joint inkwell of Dickens, refer to Georgina Hogarth as CD’s event with members of the Turner Society. mistress. A letter from former Fellowship Joint Hon Admission free, make your own travel Sec, Thelma Grove, subsequently appeared in the arrangements. If interested, please contact Radio Times, as follows:- “One of the objects featured Joan Dicks on [email protected] in ‘Antiques Roadshow’ (20 th March, BB1), was CD’s or 020 7242 8575. inkwell, given to him by his wife’s sister, Georgina Hogarth, with her letter giving its provenance. The Saturday, 26 th November – Victorian Parlour expert’s frequent reference to Georgina as Dickens’s Entertainment - By popular demand, fresh “mistress” and describing the relationship as “a love from their success at the Eastbourne affair” are unforgiveably inaccurate. They repeat the conference, the Britannia Theatre Company rumours current at the time of Dickens’s separation will present an evening of music, laughter and from his wife in 1858, which caused the serious breach song in the hall of the Artworkers’ Guild, 7 – between Dickens and Thackeray known as the 10 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. “Garrick Club row”. To refute the scandal, poor Tickets £15, please contact Joan Dicks (see Georgina was medically examined to prove her details above). virginity.” The series’ editor apologised, agreed it was wrong and emphasised the importance of factual accuracy in the show, adding that he would talk to his TV Great Expectations – Another version is team about it. being filmed by BBC1, to be screened at Christmas ahead of next year’s bi-centenary. It And another inkwell.... used by CD while writing his will star Gillian Anderson (who was a superb Lady last novel, Edwin Drood, has sold for £950 at auction. Dedlock on BBC a few years ago) as Miss According to the auctioneers, Dickins Auctioneers of Havisham, David Suchet as Mr Jaggers and Ray Middle Clayton, Bucks, the brass container was kept in Winstone as Magwitch. A film version is also Dickens’s Swiss chalet at Gad’s Hill and was planned by the BBC for release next year. This is bequeathed to members of staff, ending up in the hands great news – but how about doing Barnaby Rudge of a house-boy, Henry Johnson. for a change? ****** ****** . Pickwick London Ladies’ Club. Your Editor Many thanks to those who have kindly sent in enjoyed an unexpected perk of the job when she items for the LP. Like Oliver, however, “I want received, a few months ago, an invitation to the some more”. Please send to: Alison Gowans, ‘Spring Luncheon’ of the above organisation. She “Danesdyke”, 27A Ashcombe Road, had a lovely day in the company of several Carshalton, SM5 3ET, or by email - enthusiastic ladies, styling themselves Mrs [email protected]

Fellowship website: www.dickensfellowship.org