the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Violet Clough : Children’s Literature

'Meeting held at 22 Cintra Avenue 10.3.41 F. E. Pollard in the Chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
3. Violet Clough read an exceedingly interesting paper on “Children’s Literature” showing the was it has developed from the “Moral Tales” of Maria Edgeworth published at the beginning of the 19th. Century, to the delightful tales by Beatrix Potter & A. A. Milne which are read today. The one retrogressive step she thought was in the binding of the books, which today seem to come to pieces almost at once. All the mothers present agreed with this, so it is no reflection on the Clough children in particular although it may be on the modern child in general.
4. Readings from children’s literature were then given as follows: Labour Lost from the Rollo Books. Selected by S. A. Reynolds & read by A. B. Dilks.
“The Fairchild Family” by Mrs. Sherwood read by Mrs. Pollard – this was particularly gruesome.
“Little Women” by Louisa Alcott read by Mary Stansfield.
Divers examples of children[’]s poetry read by Rosamund Wallis, which included an impromptu recitation by Howard Smith of one of Hillair[e] Belloc’s Cautionary Tales.
“Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carrol[l] read by F. E. Pollard.
“Samuel Whiskers” by Beatrix Potter read by Muriel Stevens.
“The Sing Song of Old Man Kangaroo” a Just So Story by Rudyard Kipling, read by Howard Smith.
“The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame read by Margaret Dilks.
“The House at Pooh Corner” by A. A. Milne, read by A. B. Dilks.
5. Bruce Dilks sang two of Fraser-Simsons settings of A. A. Milne’s Poems. “Christopher Robin Alone in the Dark” and “Happiness”.

[Signed as a true record of the meeting by] S. A. Reynolds April 7th / 41'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Violet Clough      Manuscript: Unknown

Violet Clough : [Note giving apologies for absence]

'Meeting held at 72 Shinfield Road. 5th May 1941
A. G Joselin in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved

2. Apologies of absence were read from Violet Clough & Mr. & Mrs. Knox Taylor.

[...]

4. Our evening was devoted to a study of the work and writings of Matthew Arnold and we are very grateful to the Committee who arranged the programme and in particular to A. G. Joselin and F. E. Pollard for a most interesting and enlightening evening.
First Mr. Joselin told us something of Matthew Arnold’s work as an Educationalist — of his attempts to secure the improvement of education & particularly secondary education in England. His views on Education are expressed in “Culture and Anarchy” which was published in 1869, and Mr. Joselin read several extracts from J. Dover Wilson’s editorial introduction to this book. [...] Other readings given to illustrate Matthew Arnold the Educationalist and Prose Writer were “Dover Beach” by Mrs. Joselin and further extracts form “Culture and Anarchy” read by R. D. L. Moore.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Dilks      Manuscript: Unknown

Violet Clough : [An introduction to the play Robert’s Wife by St. John Ervine]

'Meeting held at School House. 18th October 1940.
R. D. L. Moore in the Chair.
[...]
2. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
4. The evening was devoted to reading “Roberts Wife” by St. John Moore with the following cast:—
June Harvey —— Muriel Stevens
Anne —— Violet Clough
Miss Orley —— Rosamund Wallis
Sanchia Carson —— Margaret Dilks
Dick Jones —— A. B. Dilks
Robert Carson —— Roger Moore
Dr. Grahame, Bishop of Winterbourne —— F. E. Pollard
Mrs. Jones —— Edith Smith
Bob Carson —— A. B. Dilks
Mrs. Armitage —— Mary S. W. Pollard
Rev. Jefferson —— Howard Smith
Chief Inspector Lindsey —— F. E. Pollard
Inspector Futvoye —— Arnold Joselin
Violet Clough introduced the play, and read the stage directions.

[signed] Rosamund Wallis
Nov. 18th 1940'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Violet Clough      Manuscript: Unknown

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