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Listings for Author:  

Victor Alexander

 

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Victor Alexander : Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 31 May 1931

'Meeting held at 70, Northcourt Avenue: 2. VI. 31 Charles E. Stansfield in the chair 1. Minutes of last approved [...] 7. The subject of the Sitwells was introduced by George Burrow who read spicy biographical extracts from Who's Who about the father Sir George Reresby, the sister Edith, and the brothers Osbert and Sacheverell. [...] Relieved by this happy if unexpected dénouement we settled ourselves in renewed confidence to listen to readings from the poetry of Edith. Alfred Rawlings read us parts of Sleeping Beauty & Celia Burrow the story of Perrine. Then for the work of Osbert and Sacheverell. H. M. Wallis gave us an amusing & tantalising paper entitled "Southern Baroque Art". This was followed by further reading from Mary Pollard, Alfred Rawlings, Charles Stansfield, & George Burrow.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 2 June 1931

'Meeting held at School House, Leighton Park: 16. IX. 31. Victor Alexander in the chair 1. Minutes of last approved. [...] 4. John L. Hawkins then read us his paper on the Natural History of the neighbourhood [...] 6. After the interval Henry Marriage Wallis gave a vivid account of two or three bird nesting exploits undertaken with James Crosfield in Scotland.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 16 September 1931

Meeting held at 30 Northcourt Avenue: 16. X. 31. Ethel C. Stevens in the chair. 1 Minutes of last were read[...].

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 22 March 1932]

'Meeting held at Fairlight: 9 Denmark Rd. 18th April 1932.

Francis Pollard in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved.

br/>[...]

4. F. E. Pollard then spoke on the spirit of Cricket, telling some good anecdotes to illustrate its fun and its art, both for those who play & those who frequently see it.[...]

5. Readings were then given by Victor Alexander from Nyren, by Howard Smith from Francis Thompson, & by R. H. Robson from de Delincourt's "The Cricket Match".'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Booklet

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 18 April 1932]

Meeting held at Eynsham, Shinfield Rd, 31.5.32.

George Burrow in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last approved


[...]

6. Victor Alexander then gave an outline of the career of Molière, & a sketch of the life of the XVIIth Century in France.


[...]

7. There followed a reading of the Misanthrope - abridged - in translation. The parts were taken as follows:

Philinte      Charles Stansfield
Alceste      Frank Pollard
Oronte      George Burrow
Célimène      Rosamund Wallis
Basque      Sylvanus Reynolds
Eliante      Mary S. W. Pollard
Clitandre      Edgar Castle
Acaste      Henry M. Wallis
A Guard      Victor Alexander
Arsinoë [Arsinoé]      Mary E. Robson

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [an outline of the career of Molière and a sketch of the life of the XVIIth Century in France]

Meeting held at Eynsham, Shinfield Rd, 31.5.32.

George Burrow in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last approved


[...]

6. Victor Alexander then gave an outline of the career of Molière, & a sketch of the life of the XVIIth Century in France.


[...]

7. There followed a reading of the Misanthrope - abridged - in translation. The parts were taken as follows:

Philinte      Charles Stansfield
Alceste      Frank Pollard
Oronte      George Burrow
Célimène      Rosamund Wallis
Basque      Sylvanus Reynolds
Eliante      Mary S. W. Pollard
Clitandre      Edgar Castle
Acaste      Henry M. Wallis
A Guard      Victor Alexander
Arsinoë [Arsinoé]      Mary E. Robson

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 31 May 1932]

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: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 22 June 1932]

Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue, 20.ix.'32.

Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair

1. Minutes of last read & approved.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 20 September 1932]

Meeting held at Ashton Lodge, Kendrick Rd., 13.x.32.

Henry M. Wallis in the chair

1. Minutes of last read & approved.


[...]

5. Francis E. Pollard then gave us an account of the life of Scott, interspersed with racy anecdotes. He gave us a lively picture of Scott's romantic outlook & of his keen historical interests.

6. Alfred Rawlings, who is endeared to us among other reasons as the stormy petrel of the Club, next launched an attack upon Scott as a poet, decrying his imperfections and slovenliness.

7. Henry M. Wallis then entertained us with the later work of Scott. Speaking as one wizard of another he almost succeeed in making us believe that he had been Scott's contemporary, & under his spell we caught something of the dazzling popularity of Scott's writings throughout the whole of Europe, and in particular of the cult for the Highlands and the Highlanders which sprang into being from his pen.

8. Towards the end of the evening we heard three readings, the first from Ivanhoe by Charles Stansfield who used the supper scenne in which Friar Tuch entertains the unknown knight, the second from the Heart of Midlothian by Frank Pollard in which Jeannie Deans pleads for her sister's life, & the third from Old Mortality by Rosamund Wallis describing the interrogation and torture inflicted upon the Covenanters.

All three readings held us enthralled, & all three papers aroused the maximum of discussion which a benevolent Chairman and a lenient hostess could allow. The time sped on beyond our usual hours, and as we took our leave we were still talking Scott.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 13 October 1932]

Meeting held at 30, Northcourt Avenue: 15.XI.32

     Ethel C. Stevens in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved


[...]

5. The Secretary then performed the invidious task of putting the dozen books favoured by the Selection Committee before the Meeting.


[...]

The other seeded books then underwent their ordeal and the subsidiary list was read a first time.


[...]

Nevertheless twelve books emerged with no less than 11 votes apiece. They are:

They were defeated    R. Macaulay    8/6 E. T. Alexander
The Cruel Victorians    Forty Authors    8/6    H. R. Smith
Flowering Wilderness    J. Galsworthy    7/6    C. E. Stansfield
The New Morality    G. E. Newsom 6/-    G. Burrow
Sir W. Scott[?]    Buchan    9/6    G. Burrow
Strawberry Roan    A. G. Street    7/6    E. D. Brain
Bonnie Prince Charlie    Wickinson    12/6    R. H. Robson
Nansen    Reynolds    10/6    E. D. Brain
As we are    E. F. Benson    15/-    E. C. Stevens
Northern Lights    Chapman    18/-    M. S. Stansfield
Youth looks at the World    Fletcher    7/6    H. M. Wallis
Land and Labour in China    Tawney    7/6     S. A. Reynolds

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 18 January 1933]

Meeting held at Reckitt House, L. P. : 17. ii. 33

Reginald H. Robson in the Chair

1. Minutes of last read & approved.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 17 February 1933]

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: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 21 March 1933

Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue 28/4/1933

C. E. Stansfield in the chair


1 Minutes of last read and approved


2 For the Next Meeting's subject "The Jew in Literature" was chosen with Geo Burrow H. R. & E. B. Smith as committee


[...]


4 The evening's subject of Berkshire in Literature was then opened up by Charles E. Stansfield reading from Tom Browns School days a description of the Vale of the White Horse[.] He carried us into a quietude of time & space where a great lover of the Vale tells of the great open downs & the vale to the north of them.


Dorothy Brain told us something of Old Berkshire Ballads surprising us with their number & variety & read an amusing Ballad about a lad who died of eating custard, & the Lay of the Hunted Pig.


C. E. Stansfield read an introduction to "Summer is a Cumen In"which was then played and sung on the Gramophone.


H. R. Smith read a description of "Reading a Hundred Years Ago" from "Some Worthies of Reading"


F. E. Pollard introduced Mary Russell Mitford to the Club giving a short account of her life and Work quoting with approval a description of her as "A prose Crabbe in the Sun"


M. S. W. Pollard read "The Gypsy" from "Our Village"


Geo Burrows gave us a short Reading from Mathew Arnolds "Scholar Gypsy" and a longer one from "Thyrsis"[.] During this the Stansfield "Mackie" put in a striking piece of synchronization.


E. B. Castle read an interesting account of the Bucklebury Bowl Turner from H. V. Mortons "In Search of England".

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 16 Feb 1934]

Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Av, 20.3.34.

Sylvanus A. Reynolds in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved, in the teeth of one dissident.


[...]

5. We then proceeded to the anonymous essays and members felt on excellent terms with themselves at the prospect of hearing some attractive reading and of eluding or inflicting a good hoax or two.

The first essay opened discreetly without title on the theme of “Newcomers to Reading”, going on to a description of the neighbourhood, its beauties its quaint place names and historical associations. […]

6. Next came a paper on “Uniforms”. The writer was considered by one or two to show the observation of the masculine mind and the style of the feminine. […]

7. Then came a letter to "My dear Twelve" written with the unmistakeable touch of the practised writer. […]

8. We listened, too, with equal interest to a paper called “Canaries”, telling us something of the progress and perambulations of our latest migrant members. Moreover two or three of our number were able to follow their doings with particular appreciation, having mad much the same trip themselves. […]

9. All of us were a good deal non plussed by “Hors d’Oeuvres”, an essay not inappropriately named, for it contained a perplexing mixture of fare, and certainly stimulated our appetite. […]

10. Hardly less difficult was “Glastonbury”. Many of us had visited it, and so were able to follow closely the author’s points. But few of us knew enough of its history and legend to be sure whether or no our one professional historian had set his wits before us. So we gave up reasoning and just guessed. […]

11. Finally we heard “Spoonbill”. It was a noteworthy paper, combining the love of the naturalist for the birds he watches with the craft of the writer in the language he uses. […]

12. Here is the complete list. —

“Newcomers to Reading” by H. R. Smith, read by F. E. Pollard
“Uniforms” by Janet Rawlings, read by Elizabeth Alexander
“My dear Twelve” by H. M. Wallis, read by S. A. Reynolds
“Canaries” by C. E. Stansfield, read by Dorothy Brain
“Hors d’Oeuvres” by Dorothy Brain, read by R. H. Robson
“Glastonbury” by Mrs Goadby, read by H. R. Smith
“The Spoonbill” by W. Russell Brain, read by Mrs. Robson

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 20 March 1934]

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: XII Book Club     Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 14 May 1935]

'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 18. 6. 35.

Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair

1. Minutes of last read and approved.

2. The Secretary then read a letter from Marjorie C. Cole, expressing her interest in the Book Club and offering us a book “Gone Rambling” by Cecil Roberts which she had recently read with enjoyment. [...]


[...]

6. The large subject of London was then opened by Howard Smith. He spoke of the extraordinary insistence of the divergent views as its origin, leaning to the opinion that it owed its beginnings to to a variety of causes.


[...]

7. Extracts from Defoe’s Journal of the Great Plague were then read by Victor Alexander.


[...]

8. From Defoe we turned to Pepys, and Reginald Robson described the Great Fire.


[...]

9. We next enjoyed a delightful picture of old London which Edith Goadby gave us, making the acquaintance of Gabriel Bardon the locksmith, his pretty daughter Dolly and Simon the apprentice. It was all too short, but at least we left them happily seated before their jolly round of beef, their Yorkshire cake and quaintly shaped jug of ale.


10. A further scene was depicted for us by Ethel Stevens, old Crosby Hall, Chelsea Hospital, Cheyne walk as it used to be, and Carlyle’s house, where he entertained Tennyson in the kitchen. We were introduced to John Stuart Mill and his great concern over the loss of his fiend’s manuscript of the French Revolution, and we took glimpses at William de Morgan + Sir Thomas More.


11. Finally Charles Stansfield read us Wordsworth’s Sonnet composed on Westminster Bridge, and Henry Marriage Wallis quoted happily ten lines from William Morris.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 18 June 1935]

Meeting held at School House, L. P. : 13.9.35

   Francis E. Pollard in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [A paper on Jane Austen’s life and literary style]

Meeting held at 30 Northcourt Avenue: 21.4.37.

  Ethel C. Stevens in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read & approved
[...]

6. V. W. Alexander read a paper on Jane Austen, half biographical sketch & half an appreciation of her style.


7. F. E. Pollard quoted from Lucy Harrison’s Literary Papers some telling and illuminating remarks, particularly about Fanny Price in Mansfield Park


8. Readings were then given
from Northanger Abbey by Celia Burrows
from Persuasion by Rosamund Wallis
from Sense and Sensibility by Francis & Mary Pollard
from Love and Friendship by Elizabeth Alexander
from Pride and Prejudice by Victor Alexander

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Victor Alexander : Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 21 April 1937

Meeting held at School House, L.P. :- 28. v. 37.

C. E. Stanfield in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read & approved

[...]

4. Charles Stansfield then read a biographical sketch of Shelley, followed by an estimate of Shelley’s views and character.


5. Readings were then given by the following
Hymn to Intellectual Beauty by Mary Pollard
Prometheus Unbound by Reginald Robson
Ode to the West Wind by Elizabeth Alexander
Adonaïs by Victor Alexander.


These were all discussed; and a further short reading, from William Watson’s poetry, was given by Alfred Rawlings.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 5 May 1937]

Meeting held at Ashton Lodge :- 3. 7. 37.

  Henry Marriage Wallis in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read & approved


[...]

7. The Meeting then gave its attention to Witches.

H. M Wallis led off with a paper on Witchcraft and readings were given from the following books:- MacBeth – The Witch Scene[?] by Janet Rawlings, Dorothy Brain, & Dorothea Taylor with F. E. Pollard & V. W. Alexander as Banquo & MacBeth
Samuel – The Witch of Endor scene by Mary Robson
Westward Ho (Lucy), by Dorothy Brain
Trials for Witchcraft, by Howard Smith
Precious Bane, by Rosamund Wallis

Between all these items there was considerable discussion. Members were able to vie with one another in tale of mystery and eerie happenings, and if all the conversation was not strictly relevant at least the interest did not flag.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 3 July 1937]

Meeting held at Hillsborough :- 14. 9. 37.

  Reginald H. Robson in the Chair.


1. Minutes of last read & approved

2. Charles Stansfield then introduced the momentous question of the evening. Was the Book Club to end its existence? He had felt for some time that it was moribund. [...]


He referred to E. B. Castle who shared his concern and to a letter which he believed had been written to the Secretary by E. B. Castle.

3. The Secretary then read this; it supported the opinions expressed by C. E. Stansfield.


4. The subject was then discussed informally.


[...]

9. We then turned to the work of Barrie. Howard Smith gave us a chat – he would not call it a paper – on the plays he had seen.


[...]

A considerable part of “What every woman knows” was then read in which a number of people took part.

Charles Stansfield appropriately gave a reading from My Lady Nicotine.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club (those not relating to the future of the club) 14 September 1937]

'Meeting held at Whinfell, Upper Redlands Rd. 23.10.’37

Alfred Rawlings in the Chair


1. The Secretary asked permission to reserve the reading of some of the minutes until after the literary part of the programme had been taken, as these minutes would bear directly upon the discussion which would necessarily follow as to the future of the Club. This permission was given and the other minutes were then read and approved.


2. Victor Alexander then gave a brief account of the career of William Fryer Harvey, followed by an appreciation and review of “We were Seven” which he had previously written for the Bootham Magazine.


3. Helen Rawlings read several of Harvey’s poems from the volume “Laughter and Ghosts[”].


4. Elizabeth T. Alexander read a chapter from “Caprimulgus”.


5. Frank Pollard read “August Heat” from Midnight House.


6. Janet Rawlings read “Patience” from Quaker Byways.


7. Charles E. Stansfield read two more poems from “Laughter and Ghosts”


8. Howard R. Smith read “The Tortoise” from Midnight House.


9. The Secretary then read the minutes referring to last time’s discussion on the Club’s future, and also two letters of resignation. These were from Edgar and Mignon Castle and from Dorothy Brain.


10. Discussion then followed.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club (those relating to the future of the club) 14 September 1937]

'Meeting held at Whinfell, Upper Redlands Rd. 23.10.’37

Alfred Rawlings in the Chair


1. The Secretary asked permission to reserve the reading of some of the minutes until after the literary part of the programme had been taken, as these minutes would bear directly upon the discussion which would necessarily follow as to the future of the Club. This permission was given and the other minutes were then read and approved.


2. Victor Alexander then gave a brief account of the career of William Fryer Harvey, followed by an appreciation and review of “We were Seven” which he had previously written for the Bootham Magazine.


3. Helen Rawlings read several of Harvey’s poems from the volume “Laughter and Ghosts[”].


4. Elizabeth T. Alexander read a chapter from “Caprimulgus”.


5. Frank Pollard read “August Heat” from Midnight House.


6. Janet Rawlings read “Patience” from Quaker Byways.


7. Charles E. Stansfield read two more poems from “Laughter and Ghosts”


8. Howard R. Smith read “The Tortoise” from Midnight House.


9. The Secretary then read the minutes referring to last time’s discussion on the Club’s future, and also two letters of resignation. These were from Edgar and Mignon Castle and from Dorothy Brain.


10. Discussion then followed.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [A brief account of the career of William Fryer Harvey]

'Meeting held at Whinfell, Upper Redlands Rd. 23.10.’37

Alfred Rawlings in the Chair


1. The Secretary asked permission to reserve the reading of some of the minutes until after the literary part of the programme had been taken, as these minutes would bear directly upon the discussion which would necessarily follow as to the future of the Club. This permission was given and the other minutes were then read and approved.


2. Victor Alexander then gave a brief account of the career of William Fryer Harvey, followed by an appreciation and review of “We were Seven” which he had previously written for the Bootham Magazine.


3. Helen Rawlings read several of Harvey’s poems from the volume “Laughter and Ghosts[”].


4. Elizabeth T. Alexander read a chapter from “Caprimulgus”.


5. Frank Pollard read “August Heat” from Midnight House.


6. Janet Rawlings read “Patience” from Quaker Byways.


7. Charles E. Stansfield read two more poems from “Laughter and Ghosts”


8. Howard R. Smith read “The Tortoise” from Midnight House.


9. The Secretary then read the minutes referring to last time’s discussion on the Club’s future, and also two letters of resignation. These were from Edgar and Mignon Castle and from Dorothy Brain.


10. Discussion then followed.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Victor Alexander : [A review of We were Seven, by William Fryer Harvey]

'Meeting held at Whinfell, Upper Redlands Rd. 23.10.’37

Alfred Rawlings in the Chair


1. The Secretary asked permission to reserve the reading of some of the minutes until after the literary part of the programme had been taken, as these minutes would bear directly upon the discussion which would necessarily follow as to the future of the Club. This permission was given and the other minutes were then read and approved.


2. Victor Alexander then gave a brief account of the career of William Fryer Harvey, followed by an appreciation and review of “We were Seven” which he had previously written for the Bootham Magazine.


3. Helen Rawlings read several of Harvey’s poems from the volume “Laughter and Ghosts[”].


4. Elizabeth T. Alexander read a chapter from “Caprimulgus”.


5. Frank Pollard read “August Heat” from Midnight House.


6. Janet Rawlings read “Patience” from Quaker Byways.


7. Charles E. Stansfield read two more poems from “Laughter and Ghosts”


8. Howard R. Smith read “The Tortoise” from Midnight House.


9. The Secretary then read the minutes referring to last time’s discussion on the Club’s future, and also two letters of resignation. These were from Edgar and Mignon Castle and from Dorothy Brain.


10. Discussion then followed.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of meeting of the XII Book Club held 23 October 1937]

'Meeting held 219 King’s Road: 27. 11. 37.

L. Dorothea Taylor in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved.

2. A number of scenes from Victoria Regina were then read. The young Queen’s part was read by Rosamund Wallis who abdicated later in favour of Celia Burrow. The Duchess of Kent was read by Ethel Stevens, and Francis Pollard was Prince Albert. Other members took subsidiary parts.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 27 Nov 1937]

'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 14. 12. 37

C. E. Stansfield in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved

2. It should have been mentioned in last meeting’s minutes that the Secretary was asked to write to Dorothy Brain and to Edgar & Mignon Castle acknowledging their letters of resignation. [...] This was duly done and all three offered their best wishes for the Club’s happy continuance.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [letter acknowledging receipt of letter of resignation from the XII Book Club]

'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 14. 12. 37

C. E. Stansfield in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved

2. It should have been mentioned in last meeting’s minutes that the Secretary was asked to write to Dorothy Brain and to Edgar & Mignon Castle acknowledging their letters of resignation. [...] This was duly done and all three offered their best wishes for the Club’s happy continuance.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Edgar Castle      Manuscript: Letter, Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [letter acknowledging receipt of letter of resignation from the XII Book Club]

'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 14. 12. 37

C. E. Stansfield in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved

2. It should have been mentioned in last meeting’s minutes that the Secretary was asked to write to Dorothy Brain and to Edgar & Mignon Castle acknowledging their letters of resignation. [...] This was duly done and all three offered their best wishes for the Club’s happy continuance.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Edgar Castle      Manuscript: Letter, Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : [letter acknowledging receipt of letter of resignation from the XII Book Club]

'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 14. 12. 37

C. E. Stansfield in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved

2. It should have been mentioned in last meeting’s minutes that the Secretary was asked to write to Dorothy Brain and to Edgar & Mignon Castle acknowledging their letters of resignation. [...] This was duly done and all three offered their best wishes for the Club’s happy continuance.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Mignon Castle      Manuscript: Letter

  

Victor Alexander : [letter acknowledging receipt of letter of resignation from the XII Book Club]

'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 14. 12. 37

C. E. Stansfield in the Chair.

1. Minutes of last read and approved

2. It should have been mentioned in last meeting’s minutes that the Secretary was asked to write to Dorothy Brain and to Edgar & Mignon Castle acknowledging their letters of resignation. [...] This was duly done and all three offered their best wishes for the Club’s happy continuance.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Dorothy Brain      Manuscript: Letter

  

Victor Alexander : Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 14 Dec 1937

Meeting held at St. Margaret’s, Shinfield Road: 20. 1. 38.

F. E. Pollard in the chair

1. Minutes of last read and approved

[...]

6. C. E. Stansfield opened the proceedings on Æ [A-E ligature, the name adopted by George William Russell] by a detailed biographical sketch of some length, in the course of which we gained some idea of the contradictions and complexities of A. E.’s character. [...] An interesting personal touch was added to the sketch by F. E. Pollard who had been present at one of Æ’s “salon” receptions.

7. Extracts from A. E’s prose were then read by Mary S. W. Pollard on “Gandhi,” and by F. E. Pollard on “The one dimensional mind”.

8. Finally F. E. Pollard and V. W. Alexander read three of A.E.’s poems.

9. By this time most of us were more than ready for a little lighter matter, and we thoroughly appreciated some delightful touches from The Tinker’s Wedding by Synge which Rosamund Wallis gave with evident relish.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 20 Jan 1938

February 15th was the date chosen for the next time and the subject “Books that people have been reading”


Meeting held at Oakdene: Northcourt Av.–15.2.38 Sylvanus A. Reynolds in the Chair.


1. Minutes of last read and approved

[...]


4. The first reading came from Reginald Robson who gave us an amusing extract from “Beasts & Superbeasts” by H. H. Munro


5. Mary S. Stansfield read from “Lawrence by his Friends” some interesting impressions contributed by some of these friends to a book edited by Lawrence’s brother. One passage by a man who knew Lawrence as a fellow aircraftman gave us a picture of him as a thoroughly likeable and popular hero, admired for his prowess as a motorcyclist.


6. Howard L. Sikes then read from Africa View by Julian Huxley. The passage concerned the respective advantages of Indirect and Direct Rule[...]. This reading produced considerable discussion on the same questions, and spread over on to the attitude of the French and the British toward their African dependant peoples, and members found something to ask or to say about almost every corner of Africa[...].


7. Elizabeth T. Alexander followed with an entertaining reading from Halliday Sutherland’s “A time to keep”. We shall carry in our minds for some time the dramatic appearance of Red William in his nightshirt urging the ladies in evening dress to run for their lives.


8. Roger Moore gave us some excellent fun in his reading from Benjamin Robert Haydon’s Autobiography, and we made some discoveries about Charles Lamb and Wordsworth too.


9. F. E. Pollard, greatly daring, then read from the “Comments of Bagshott” [sic] some shrewd remarks about the male and female of the human species[...].


10. H. R. Smith completed the programme with some well chosen paragraphs from “Those English” by Carl [i.e. Curt] von Stutterheim.

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

  

Victor Alexander : Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 15 Feb 1938

Meeting held at Ashton Lodge: 14.3.38.
1. Minutes of last read and approved.
[...]
4. Readings from Irish Literature were then given as follows:-
C. E. Stansfield from G. A. Birmingham’s “Spanish Gold”;
H. R. Smith from a story about an illicit still;
Mary Robson from the preface of Bernard Shaw’s “John Bull’s Other Island;”
Rosamund Wallis[;]
Victor Alexander from Ross and Somerville’s “An Irish R.M.”[;]
Elsie Sikes from ? some Irish Bulls

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander      Manuscript: Notebook

 

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