Record Number: 30485

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Meeting held at “Frensham” 8th July 1944
Howard R. Smith in the chair.

[...]

7. “Love Came In” by Beatrice Saxon-Snell was read with the following cast:-
Thomas Curtis — F. E. Pollard
Anne Curtis — Isabel Taylor
Sandra — Elsie Harrod
Joe Coale — Bruce Dilks
James Naylor — Howard Smith

Before the reading Howard Smith briefly recounted the historical events leading up to the time at which the action takes place. which explains the very strained relations between George Fox & James Naylor. It was agreed that when the copies were returned to Beatrice Saxon-Snell she should be warmly thanked for lending them to us, & told how very much the club appreciated the play.

8. “The Dear Departed” by Stanley Houghton a play of a much more frivolous nature, was read with the following cast:-
Henry Slater — Bruce Dilks
Amelia Slater — Muriel Stevens
Ben Jordan — Howard Smith
Elizabeth Jordan — Rosamund Wallis
Victoria Slater — Margaret Dilks
Abel Merryweather — F. E. Pollard

9. It being still quite early we decided to read another short play & chose quite at random from the books available “The Man who wouldn't go to Heaven” by F. Sladen-Smith. Read from sight and cast quite haphazardly this proved most entertaining. F. E. Pollard as the recording angel, Basil Smith as the Free Church Minister (with a voice pregnant with unxious non-conformity), Rosamund Wallis as a string minded woman calling loudly for her dog & indeed every character was most aptly portrayed. The full cast was as follows:
Thariel — F. E. Pollard
Margaret — Margaret Dilks
Richard Alton — Bruce Dilks
Bobbie Nightingale — Howard Smith
Eliza Muggins — Muriel Stevens
Sister Mary Teresa — Dorothea Taylor
Mrs Cuthbert Bagshawe — Ruth Beck
Harriet Rebecca Strenham — Rosamund Wallis
Rev John McNulty — Basil Smith
Timothy Toto Newbiggin — Sylvanus Reynolds
Derrick Bradley — Elsie Harrod

[signed as a true record by] AB Dilks 18/9/44'

Century:

Date:

8 Jul 1944

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: Frensham, Northcourt Avenue

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Muriel Stevens

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

Quaker or associated with the Friends

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

Members of the XII Book Club

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Stanley Houghton

Title:

The Dear Departed

Genre:

Drama

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

30485

Source:

Manuscript

Author:

Margaret Dilks

Title:

XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 5 (1944-1952)

Location:

private collection

Call No:

n/a

Page/Folio:

11-16

Additional Information:

Margaret Dilks was secretary to the XII Book Club from 1940 to 1970. It is inferred from this, and from the handwriting, that she was the author of this set of minutes.

Citation:

Margaret Dilks, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 5 (1944-1952), private collection, 11-16, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=30485, accessed: 22 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

Material by kind permission of the XII Book Club. For further information and permission to quote this source, contact the Reading Experience Database (http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/contacts.php).