'A Meeting held at 9 Denmark Rd 13/11/1928 F. E. Pollard in the chair
1. Minutes of last read and approved
[...]
8[.] Essays were read (1) Alfred Rawlings on Beauty (2) R H Robson on The Abolition of the House of Commons'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'A Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue 25th September 1929 C. E Stansfield in the
chair
Min 1. Minutes of last time read and approved
2 Mrs T C Elliott was wellcomed to the club in a felicitous speech by the chairman
3 The Secretary read a letter of resignation of Membership from Muriel Bowman Smith he was
directed unanimously to ask her to reconsider the matter.
[...]
7 Holiday Essays were read R H Robson a family holiday at Mort[?] Geo Burrow The
Jamboree & thoughts thereon C. E. Stansfield on a Swiss Holiday whilst H M Wallis chatted on
some aspects of Bordighera.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Reckitt House 27/2/30
R. H. Robson in the chair
1. Minutes of last Meeting approved
5. The subject of “Medieval Social Life” which by some strange metamorphosis had changed into “Renaissance Social Life” was then taken. Mrs T. C. Elliott read a paper on “Domestic Life in the Fifteenth Century as seen in the Paston Letters”. Alfred Rawlings read a paper on “Medieval Artists and their
Methods”, illustrated by Medici reproductions of Giotto’s fresco St. “Francis: the birds”, Fra Angelico’s fresco “The Annunciation”, and Mantegna’s painting “Madonna and Child with Cherubim”[.] This was followed up by some readings anent the development of painting and the Renaissance.
R. H. Robson read a paper on “Vittorino da Feltre”, a Renaissance Schoolmaster & a “Romance of Federigo, Duke of Urbino”, illustrated by a Medici card reproduction of Piero della Francesca’s portrait of Duke Federigo. Mr Burrow read extracts from Children of the Olden Time [sic] by Eliz[abe]th Godfrey particularly
on the education of Royal Children.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 73 Northcourt Avenue
Friday 28th March 1930
1. Minutes of last meeting were approved.
[...]
6. A warm message of sympathy to be sent to our secretary, H R Smith
7. F E Pollard opened the discussion by speaking on The Cinema and The Theatre pointing out
that the silent film could only represent incidents & visible emotions, the Talkie was a
mechanical reproduction, while the best dramatic art must be given there and then by living
Personalities[.] Each may have its place but it would be a disaster if the theatre was driven
out of existence. Geo Burrows followed dealing with the influence of films on backward Races to whom the
worst was often shown with undesirable effects; & the possibilities of using Films for
missionary work.
H R Robson thought Films were of little use in Education; he regarded them as a species of
dope, in which he indulged for the soporific effect.
C E Stansfield whilst disclaiming any familiarity of them spoke of their possible deleterious
influence on our language which he heard would before long be “Ammricanized” [sic] he
dreaded the actions of the “Smellie” & “Feelie” & the possible increase of armaments to
further
the trade.
Robert Pollard expressed unbounded enthusiasm for the Talkie & Colour films. The movies
were dead & orchestras being displaced by records of appropriate music attached to the films.
T C Elliot dealt with their effect on public life and morals which he feared was almost wholly
deleterious; he produced and commented unfavourably on some of the magazines
published.
An interesting general discussion followed but whilst it was felt that many undesirable features
were associated with the Cinema the Club did not feel equal to the task of reforming it.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 30 Northcourt Avenue Dec 19th 1930
Miss E. C. Stevens in the chair
Min 1 Minutes of last Meeting approved
[...]
7 After refreshments a Symposium was opened by Miss D. Brain who took the standpoint of a
Salvationist lass giving a moving description of that outlook & experience, E. B. Castle
following with a thoughtful setting out of the Position of the Scientist[.] C. E. Stansfield put
before us the viewpoint of a Revolutionary of the masses & R. H. Robson racily endeavoured[?] to convert us to the views of a Blue Blooded Aristocrat. There followed a keen & amusing
discussion which perhaps centred too much on the Aristocrat & his doings[...].'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Reckitt House Feb 27 1931
R. H. Robson in the chair
1. Minutes of last approved
[...]
6 The subject of the evening Persian Art was then taken. R. H. Robson gave us a short survey
of Persian History emphasizing the way in which the natural Features of the Country had kept
it in a separate entity throughout the ages[.] Mrs Robson sang us "Myself When Young" and to
Geo Burrow we were indebted for a fascinating description of the Persian Art Exhibition. After
Supper Mrs Burrow read us some short & charming Persian lyrics, C.E. Stansfield read from
Fitzgeralds Omar Kyaham [sic] Mrs Pollard gave us Laurence Binyons impressions of Persian
Art & Miss Brain read the last scene from Flecker’s Hassan.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Whinfell, Upper Redlands Rd., 30. i. 32.
Alfred Rawlings in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved.
[...]
3. Howard Smith spoke to us of the social and literary sides of Sheridan's life.[...]
4. Reginald H. Robson followed with an account of Sheridan as Parliamentarian, telling us of
his thirty-two years in opposition to reactionary government, his aversion from bribery in a
corrupt age, and his conduct of the Hastings Impeachment. This last brought into remarkable
combination Sheridan's dramatic and rhetorical gifts; so that we quite fell beneath the spell,
accepting him as a heroic character, and were ready to condone, if not indeed even to
acclaim, his less creditable convivialities with the Prince Regent and Mrs.[or Mr.] Robson's
ancestors!
5. Francis E. Pollard then read a passage from Sheridan's speech on the devastation of
Oudh.[...]
6. We then listend to extracts from "The School for Scandal" starring Mrs. Robson as Lady
Teazle and C. E. Stansfield as Sir Peter. As is not unusual on such occasions the humours of
the play as devised by the author had to compete with other unrehearsed attractions — actors
borrowing books, adjusting their spectacles, turning two pages instead of one, and, perhaps
best of all, the pure milk of the expurgated editions looking a little sour at the strong wine of
the original text.
Be that as it may, ancestral portraits from the brush of Vandyke or Lely, Kneller or Rawlings
changed owners with the accustomed success: Mr. Robson* as Joseph Surface mad love to his
own wife as Lady Teazle[...].
* R.H.R. states that Gio. B. was Jos. Surface [Footnote is in MS]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Broomfield: 22.3.1932
George Burrow in the chair
1. The minutes of last were read by Sylvanus Reynolds, who had kindly deputised for the
Secretary in his absence.
[...]
7. F. E. Pollard then spoke on the Victorians and their literature.[...] When the paper was
discussed there proved to be a very general measure of consent.[...]
Howard Smith disturbed us a little by accusing the Victorians of complacency[...].
Finally Reginald Robson deplored the disappearance of the Victorian countryside. As it was
foretold by Malthus the Economist, so it had come to pass. Over population had done its work.
There could be no more rural simplicity or village Hampdens, no more nurture of man by
nature any more. The Victorian age can be guaranteed unique: the mould from which it was
cast has been shattered.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
Meeting held at Reckitt House, Leighton Park: 22.6.32
Reginald H. Robson in the Chair.
1. Minutes of the last read. It was felt that Minute 6 needed some amplification, & Charles
Stansfield was asked to do this. His more than kind amplification is appended.
[...]
8. After adjournment for supper, the Goethe evening was begun by Mary E Robson. She sang
the song "Knowst thou the land". The music is by Beethoven. In this and her other songs Mary
Robson was kindly accompanied by Caroline Pollard.
9. A Reading from Goethe was next given by Mary S. W. Pollard.
10. Reginald H. Robson read a paper on the life of Goethe. If there were any who had thought
of Goethe exclusively as a poet, they must have been amazed at his vesitality. Philosopher,
poet, statesman, scientist, he seems to have been "everything by turns and nothing long",
except indeed a lover [...].
11. We had been much intrigued with Mrs Robson's description of the Sorrows of Werther,
especially when our friend warned us that those who came under the spell of this book usually
commited suicide after reading it. We felt accordingly grateful to Mrs. Robson who had read it
on our behalf, and flirted with death for our sakes, and not a little apprehensive when Janet
Rawlings read us an extract from it. All passed off well, however. [...]
12. George Burrow read a song from Goethe's Gefunden.
13. Mary Robson sang "My peace is o'er" from Faust.
14. A Reading from the same play was given by Elisabeth & Victor Alexander
15. Another song "Little wild rose, wild rose red." was sung by Mary Robson.
16. Finally Charles E. Stansfield gave us his paper on Goethe. He referred to the lack of the
political sense in the German people of those days, & showed Goethe as quite content to
acquiesce in the paternal government of his small state. He described the influence of
Herde[,] Klopstock, Lessing, Shakespeare, &, quaintly enough, of Goldsmith on Goethe.
In speaking of the poet's scientific interests he told us of his discovery of the intermaxillary
bone & of Goethe's ceaseless efforts to acquire truth.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at School House, L[eighton]. P[ark].: 18. i. 33.
Sylvanus A. Reynolds in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved
[...]
5. Reginald Robson then spoke to us on the England of 1580 - 1590, with special reference to
the development of the Elizabethan manor house. His attractive account of Ufton Court & the
alluring photographs he passed round led several of our members to express the disre that
our picnic next July might be held there. Reginald Robson may take it therefore that he is
notified that his services as showman will be in request, and owners of motor cars are advised
to have their vehicles in repair for the occasion.
6. In the absence of George Burrow, Edgar Castle read us some notes on the literature of 1580–1590 which George Burrow had gallantly prepared on his bed of sickness.
7. Victor Alexander then spoke of the situation in France during the period in question. Some
of the Castles on the Loire were duly admired. They seem a little distant for a Book Club
picnic[...].
8. Howard Smith had hoped to speak to us of the Faerie Queen, but as he was also in the grip
of influenza Frank Pollard good naturedly discussed at short notice the versification of Spenser
illustrating his remarks very pleasingly by quotations.
9. The company then dispersed homeward through the rigours of an arctic blizzard.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
Meeting held at Fairlight, Denmark Rd.: 21.iii.33
Francis E. Pollard in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
5. Eight anonymous essays were then read. In some of these the subject treated or the style
of the author made recognition comparatively easy, but others were provocative of much
ingenious speculation. A paper on English Justice proved to be the most discussed during the
interval. Rival tipsters gave in confidence the names of Mrs. Stansfield & Robert Pollard as the
author, one of them purporting to recognize - or coming perilously close to so doing - Mrs.
Stansfield’s opinion of her fellow magistrates, while the other detected just that ingenious
combination of Fascism and Bolshevism that Robert Pollard would enjoy putting up for the
Club’s mystification. Further conflicting theories attributed the authorship to Henry Marriage
Wallis or Howard Smith, & this last proved correct[....]
Another essay which stirred debate told of a medium, a photograph, a Twentieth Century
Officer & a suit of medieval armour. It was told with that precision of detail that marks either
the experienced writer of fiction or the worshipper of truth. And as if to darken counsel there
was an open allusion to Bordighera. Suspicious though we were, & in spite of every
appearance of our being right, we adhered to the view that the author must be H. M. Wallis.
Time & space do not allow adequate record of all the papers, but it must be mentioned that
three of the eight came from the Rawlings family: a thoughtful essay by Alfred Rawlings
needed a second reading if it were to be seriously discussed, some interesting reminiscences
by Helen Rawlings made very good hearing, & Moroccan memories by Janet helped to make a
most varied programme.
Other essays were "Safety First" by Charles E. Stansfield, and "The English - are they modest?
" by Edgar Castle, both of which added some humorous touches to the evening.
A list of essayists, & their readers, follows.
Mrs Castle read a paper by Alfred Rawlings
Janet Rawlings read a paper by Helen Rawlings
Charles Stansfield read a paper by Henry M. Wallis
Reginald Robson read a paper by Howard Smith
George Burrow read a paper by Reginald Robson
Alfred Rawlings read a paper by Edgar Castle
Howard Smith read a paper by Janet Rawlings
Mrs Pollard read a paper by Charles E. Stansfield.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: George Burrow Manuscript: Unknown
Meeting held at 9 Denmark Road, 20 IV. 1934
F. E. Pollard in the chair
1. Minutes of last read & approved with one correction, in the absence of the secretary.
[...]
4. Howard R. Smith told us of Morris’s life. The meeting gasped with unanimity and
amazement to learn that he (Morris i.e.) had read all the Waverley novels by the age of
seven; we gathered that the background of his life had been a blend of Epping Forest & shares
in a coppermine, and that his appearance accounted for his lifelong nickname of Topsy. Of his
friendships, his labours to restore beauty to Victorian homes, to prevent vandals from
restoring cathedrals & other ancient monuments, his Kelmscott Press, his poems & prose
romances, his turning to Socialism as the only way to a society in which men would find
happiness in sound and beautiful work – of all these things and many more which made up his
extraordinarily full and fruitful life, it is impossible to make a summary.
5. Mary S. W. Pollard read a short extract from Percy Corder’s life of Robert Spence Watson
telling of a visit of Wm Morris to Bensham Grove. Members afterwards inspected his signature
in the Visitors’ book.
6. Ethel C. Stevens read an interesting account of Kelmscott Manor, revealing other sides of
this vigorous and many sided personality.
7. R. H. Robson gathered together the artistic & socialist aspects of Morris’s work, emphasised
the greatness of the man, & read extracts from MacKail’s Biography. It was clear that Morris
would wish to cancel out the last four hundred years & start again on different lines. Time was
wanting to reveal all the varieties of opinion that this might have elicited, & we parted in
united awe at the mans capacity for work, & his important contributions to our life & ideals.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
Meeting held at School House, L. P. : 13.9.35
Francis E. Pollard in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved.
2. Account of the Excursion, contributed by R. H. Robson, read and approved.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Notebook, with photographs of the excursion pasted alongside the text.
'Meeting held at 22 Cintra Avenue: 23.6.36
Francis E Pollard in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and, with the addition of No. 7, approved.
7. Frank Pollard then introduced the subject for the evening, Modern Authors. [...]
8. There followed a series of talks, in most cases acompanied by readings: these were in the
order named
Janet Rawlings, on E. H. Young’s “Miss Mole’
Dorothy Brain, on T. S. Eliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral”
R. H Robson on some Poems of W. H. Auden
V. W. Alexander on René Bazin’s “La Terre qui meurt” and “Les Oberlé”, and finally
Charles Stansfield on Winifred Holtby’s “South Riding.”'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Cintra Avenue
22.IV.1938
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
The following essays were read:-
authors
Mrs Stevens His Good Turn – read by Elizabeth Alexander
Miss Stevens Anne Thackeray’s Chapter from Memory read by Muriel Stevens
Mrs Dilks The Gardener [read by] H. R. Smith
H. M. Wallis Some New Thing [read by] F. E. Pollard
H. R. Smith The Cotswolds [read by] A. B. Dilks
R. H. Robson Rupert Brooke [read by] Mary S. W. Pollard
A. B. Dilks The Spacious Firmament [read by] Mary E. Robson
The essays were then successfully identified'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 219 King’s Road: 27.5.38
L. Dorothea Taylor in the chair.
1. Minutes of last read + approved
2. A brief introduction to the brothers [sic] Zweig and their work was given by R. H. Robson.
Owing to a confusion of dates and names in one of the sources from which he derived his
informations, the brothers were made to indulge in some unrehearsed interchanges of thought
and interest, which both mystified and entertained the Club, and combined the authors in our
minds inextricably as a pair of intellectually-Siamese twins.
3. F. E. Pollard gave the first reading from Stepan [sic] Zweig’s “The Right to Heresy”. It was
keen incisive stuff read with a gusto that would have delighted Bernard Shaw.
4. Elizabeth Alexander followed with some pleasant descriptive paragraphs of Palestine, Jewish
and Arabic, from the somewhat unpleasant “De Vriendt Goes Home” of Arnold Zweig.
5. Janet Rawlings read some extracts from Stepan Zweig’s “Sternstunden der Menscheit [sic]”, a
telling story of the wealth and poverty of a scoundrel [John Sutter] at the time of the rise of San
Francisco; and we beg respectfully to congratulate her on the translation.
6. Roger Moore’s reading from Stepan Zweig’s “Adepts in Self Portraiture” was greatly enhanced
by the notes and comments he added to it, and particularly in the case of Tolstoi, and this paper
led to some enlightening discussion.
7. Elsie Sikes read a description of an encounter between a lynx and an escaped prisoner from
“The Case of Sergeant Grischa” by Arnold Zweig. [...]
8. Mary Robson’s reading from Stepan Zweig’s “Mary Queen of Scots” brought the historians into
the fray for and against, but Stepan was unhappily absent to tell us of his sources.
9. Reginald Robson closed the programme with some scenes from Stepan Zweig’s “Marie
Antoinette.”'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has
increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a certain
embarrassment. Several
members who liked to think of themselves as frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the
interval for light
refreshment had often proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare
before and after.[...]
[...]
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those
which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker compromise, perhaps an
acceptance in principle and a
rejection in practice wold best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H.
Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander Manuscript: Letter
'Meeting held at Gower Cottage, 20.II.’39
R. D. L. Moore, & subsequently H. Stevens in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
5. R. H. Robson told of The Stately Homes of Thames, + we heard of Bisham
Abbey, Mapledurham, Ufton Court, of Jesuits hunted by Walsingham, of the
incident of The Rape of the Lock, of Lovelace, Lady Place, Hurley, and Soames
Forsyte.
6. H. R. Smith, dealing with the Story of the River, + passing lightly over the
Danish incursions upstream, spoke of the thousand years in which the Thames had
been in bounds. Weirs had been made by millers, navigation had been slow and
perilous, the modern lock was a matter of the last hundred + fifty years. Twenty-
six mills were named in Domesday Book[.] The Thames Conservancy had brought
order out of chaos.
[...]
8. S. A. Reynolds read from Mortimer Menpes of warehouses + houseboats, the
boat race + Henley Regatta, Kingfishers + quick backwaters, fishing + the
vagaries of the towpath.
9. R. D. L. Moore gave us Literary Gleanings, touching on Spenser and Shelley,
quoting from The Scholar Gypsy + Thyrsis, + reading Soames Forsyte’s thoughts
in the early morning on the river, Kipling’s The River’s Tale, + Virginia Woolf’s
astonishing account in Orlando of the great frost, when a girl dissolved into
powder + fish were frozen twenty fathoms deep!
[...]
11. Muriel Stevens read a friend’s notes on Deptford + its river scenes.
12. A. B. Dilkes from Three Men in a Boat.
[Signed] S A Reynolds
27/3/93 [i.e. 27/3/39]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School — at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
[...]
[signed]A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Manuscript: Unknown
