Newsletter of the Society

Hon President: Lord Tweedsmuir Registered Scottish charity No SCO 06071 Issue No 64 July 2009

His advice on all aspects of JB's And yes, the Chairman did From the Chairman books and his wise counsel will be confess to would be entrants ‘One (memory) was the waking sorely missed. that her Grandfather’s on a hot July morning with a day There will be more about Michael handwriting was almost of moorland wandering before in the Journal but in the mean- illegible! me. Around me were the subtle while I would ask you to think of Other matters discussed were odours of an old house, Hazel and the family. our support for the owners of somewhere far-off the fragrance Deborah Stewartby ‘The 39 Steps House’ at St of coffee and the smell of new- Note - The memorial service will Cuby should they apply for a mown hay drifting through the be at St Mary’s, Taunton on 21st Blue Plaque and the difficulty open window… ‘ Memory Hold September. Hazel Ross would of making any headway in the Door’ . welcome anyone who would like regard to the less than As I write this I sit in the self- to be there. The Chairman will satisfactory appearance of JB’s same house at the self-same time give an Address. Ed birthplace in Perth. of year, with the self-same The Post Office has been smells, conscious of the thread of reasonably encouraging about continuity. And in this, the 30th AGM our efforts to ensure that the anniversary year of the Society, Glasgow 2009 centenary of ‘ The 39 Steps’ is such continuity - of membership, marked by a commemorative A goodly number of members of interest in JB, of his popularity stamp and ‘will be back in forwent (?) the pleasure of visiting - is one of our great strengths. touch in 2014’! the attractions of Glasgow We celebrated the anniversary The Membership Secretary was University Campus to attend the with a splendid weekend, sitting able to report that the member- AGM held in the Randolph Hall. down ninety to dinner, at ship stands at 536 and the Among the items discussed was the Glasgow University and the next Treasurer that the Society is in proposed acquisition of 10 busts of Journal will reflect the talks we the black. Though the JB modelled by Grandison of had by a number of distinguished suggestion was made that Peebles at a cost of £150 per ‘head’ speakers. Next year, at the end of savings could be made if to members. We do need at least 5 March, we will go to Letchworth members who have email more sales before we can place an - Biggleswick in ‘ Mr Standfast’ might be prepared to receive order. - where we will explore the links this Newsletter in electronic So why not treat yourself and have both JB and John Bunyan have form - a matter for some our man as a presence in your with that part of the world. deliberation in future? home? Or present him to your Letchworth has excellent We are delighted to welcome local library and then maybe they transport links, is celebrated as two new members elected to would buy all the re-issues by the First Garden City and was Council - Edward Buchan and Birlinn! Orders (lots of please) to represented by my husband in the Michael Redley but sad to say the Secretary. House of Commons for nearly farewell to Russell Paterson As a Scottish charity the Society is twenty years, so it will be a who has decided to stand required to participate in some welcome return for us. down. Russell is a founder outreach work. So last year The I cannot end without telling you member of the Society and John Buchan Handwriting of the sad and very sudden death former Secretary. His Competition was born at of Michael Ross of Avonworld enthusiasm and dedication over Broughton Show, where sixty Books, a Society member since the past 30 years have, in no children took on the challenge of 1989 and on Council since 2007. small measure, ensured that our copying JB’s poem ‘Autumn of the Society has flourished in the World.’ truest sense of the word.

From the Mailbox Welcome Karen Brown, NSW, Australia; 33393999StepsSteps to Mentor, Illinois ? Sarah Osinsky , Adult Info. Services Librarian, runs a Laura Buchan, King‘s Langley; CrimeHeading Club for readers in Mentor Public Library - The 39 Steps was one of the books Michael Burton, Bristol ; Paul chosen for discussion. Nine people took part and below is a distillation of their thoughts Carroll, Cookham; Roger Clarke, shared during a ‘lively discussion’. Picking up on our web site comment that any discussion Text here Bristol; Gerard Fee, Kentucky, of the book invariably jumps quickly to the films, the group observed how unlike the book the Hitchcock version was and could not quite imagine how, although there were comical USA; Caroline Gill, Swansea, incidents in the book, an adaptation to a two hour play could win Best New Comedy on Keith Hanson, Morebattle; Broadway! To get the discussion going the readers had to try to remember how many Rupert Hill, London; Peter disguises Hannay adopted and how many crimes he committed. Sarah continues: Hodgkiss, Chalfont St Peter; Peter ‘One member commented on the chapter headings reminding her of titles of Sherlock Hoffman, Strathpeffer; Patricia Holmes mysteries. She also talked about how each chapter ended in a cliff hanger, Marjoram, Derby; Philip Monteith, much like the serial programming on radio and film at the time. The pacing was so fast in Oban; K.J. Russell, Chilton; Rev the book, one had to pay attention the entire time because one might miss a crucial piece Andrew and Mrs Jennifer Wylie, of information. Cupar . We spoke a little bit about certain characteristics in the novel that have influenced spy novels that came afterwards. It was the first novel to use the chase and pursuit device, and it reminded me of "The Fugitive," as that character was always on the run being chased by Farewell the law. John Howell , a veteran member, It was also surprising at how willingly everyone believed Scudder and Hannay's story about Mick Imlah, poet, critic and editor, the spy ring. In today's world, it would be very different. Rev Bob Montgomery,campaign- I had some questions about how Hannay made his fortune in South Africa, as he was a er and former chaplain to mining engineer and knew a thing or two about explosives. We speculated that maybe he Quarrier’s Homes, Michael Ross, was into diamond mining there. Everyone liked the many different colorful characters Hannay met on his way. bookseller and Council member. The last point I will mention is that we talked a little about code breaking. I found ∗∗∗ information on the Playfair Cipher, which I believe may have been similar to what Buchan was describing in Scudder's books. The article on it can be found at the following address: New Buchan Books !!! www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/decoding/playfair.html You will also notice the article mentions Jamie Buchan , our Webmaster, that this code was used by the British in the Boer War. ‘ launches the latest generation of Buchan authors with the publication 39 Steps for Sale? Well, of ‘As easy as Pi: stuff about sort of… The owners of the holiday apartment contained within St Cuby, Broadstairs, the numbers that isn’t (just) maths’. house where JB was staying when he wrote the book, are moving on and would love to Michael O’Mara Books Ltd., see it sold to someone who would appreciate the connection (just about all of us I would 2009, £9.99 . Jamie received a very think)! The apartment can be sold as a going concern or as a residential property. View at complimentary review in The www.stcubyholidaylet.co.uk and be seduced. Scotsman of 16 th June. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/fe Elementary, my dear Doyle ? atures/-Can-maths-get- David Page , Nottingham, enjoyed his visit to the JB Centre at Broughton enormously and its.5367628.jp wonders if JB ever met Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - ‘Because it struck me that with JB’s Greyladies the new imprint of the obviously high intellect, his high achievements, interest in politics, his love of action and his Old Children’s Bookshelf aims to Sherlock Holmes connections he could have been the real life embodiment of the real ’. publish new editions of old favour- (It’s that man again!). ites. ‘ Pink Sugar’ by O. Douglas (Anna Buchan) is their latest title JB the Parliamentarian. available at the end of August, Barry Winetrobe thanks the Society for help with his article on JB’s parliamentary career. priced £12.00 + £1.50 pp . The article can be viewed at http://www.totalpolitics.com/magazine_detail.php?id=456 The author hopes he ‘will be able to return to this topic more fully in the future , perhaps in Obtainable from book form’. www.greyladiesbooks.co.uk or telephone 0131 558 3411. Anna fans will remember that this is the story Comments, Queries & Contributions to the Secretary, in which JB’s children appear, not Glennis McClemont, 37 Waterloo Road, Lanark ML11 7QH very thinly disguised. The Hon President and the Chairman’s late Tel: 01555 662103. EmaiEmail:l: [email protected]@yahoo.co.uk father charms as ‘Bad Bill’!