Novello's Circle, Eulogies and Reminiscences,

Letters and correspondence between Macqueen-Pope and members of Novello'e inner circle containing eulogies and reminiscences of Novello. Other items from Ivor Novello's friends and acquaintances can be found in the other sections of this collection.
2/1) Four typescript copy letters from Macqueen-Pope to Tom Arnold (Actor and Producer), 1951. Offering condolences and arranging meeting relating to the book. (4 items)
2/2) Three autograph letters, 1951, from Gilbert Clark (Costume designer) to Macqueen-Pope complementing him on his book and some personal reminiscences. Typescript copy reply. (4 items)
2/3) Two typescript copy letters from Macqueen-Pope to Constance Collier (Actress) and a signed typescript reply, 1951. (3 items)
2/4) Four typescript and one autograph letters between Lord Cromer (Aristocrat) and Macqueen-Pope, 1951, asking permission to use material in his book on Novello and comments on the history of the theatre. (5 items)
2/5) 'Clemence Dane' [pseudonym of Winifred Ashton] (1888-1965), (Novelist and playwright). Two autograph letters, one signed 'Winifred C. D.' and the other 'Winifred Clemence Dane', one copy reply from Macqueen-Pope. Both on her Tavistock Street letterhead. The first (4pp), undated, praises Macqueen-Pope for 'Ivor: The Story of an Achievement’: 'I have just finished it - it is a real work of friendship & affection & I am sure he would have liked it. I found it painful reading because it was so vividly alive & of the present. But that is its virtue!'
The second letter is headed 'Tuesday', and in it she writes to 'My dear Fred' (i.e. F. W. Allen) that she is 'honoured that the portrait bust should go to the lane [i.e. the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane] - my only hesitation is that it is only Amateur work, & doesn’t do him justice: but I believe he would like to have it there'. (3 items)
2/6) Teresa del Riego (1876-1968), (Composer). Signed reminiscences titled 'A small Tribute'. She describes the 'sense of comradeship from the first, although I was some years older than him' (Ivor Novello being eighteen at the time). Also 'Ivor's visits to me in the early years of my marriage, & how interested he was in a new invention in my possession called "The Musicograph." It claimed to be the sort of typing machine for which many composers yearned; but it never proved of use to either of us. A clever idea, but quite impractical. I believe I was the only purchaser, & it never came into the market, since being an Italian production, it vanished during the First World War.' She praises Ivor’s generosity and appreciation of other songwriters, as well as his 'marvellous memory for all kinds of music, classical or otherwise'. With accompanying autograph signed letter, 27 April 1951. 'Make any use you like of this small "tribute" to our dear friend Ivor Novello. I expect you will be quoting from many of his friends & admirers, to whom his passing meant a great shock, & loss.' In a postscript she apologises for her brother the actor Philip Desborough's delay in writing. (2 items)
2/7) Philip Desborough (1883-1966), (Actor). Signed autograph reminiscences titled 'Ivor Novello in "The Happy Hypocrite" of Max Beerbohm'. With accompanying undated autograph signed letter to Macqueen-Pope beginning: 'My memory is becoming so old - I find it difficult to remember detail regarding "The Happy Hypocrite" - which in your letter to my sister [the violinist and composer Teresa del Riego] you ask me to send you - if any!' He hopes what he sends about 'dear Ivor' is 'not too personal'. Copy reply from Macqueen-Pope. (4 items)
2/8) Lady Juliet Duff (Aristocrat). Three typescript copy letters from Macqueen-Pope and a signed typescript response from Juliet Duff, 1951. Memories of first meeting Ivor Novello and arranging a meeting to discuss her memories. (3 items)
2/9) Two signed autograph letters from Mary Ellis (Actress) to Macqueen-Pope in regarding her relationship with Novello, together with a typescript copy letter referring to the sale of Redroofs, 1951. (3 items)
2/10) Olive Gilbert (Actress). Names and notes on associates of Ivor Novello, n.d. [1951]. (1 item)
2/11) Six autograph letters, from Lyn Harding (Actor) following the death of Novello, including his memories. A typescript copy letter from Macqueen-Pope asking him to read a lesson at the funeral service, together with telegram accepting the offer, 1951. (7 items)
2/12) Christopher Hassall (1912-1963), poet, biographer and Ivor Novello's librettist. Three typescript letters to Macqueen-Pope, six replies and copy letter to Bob, often of intimate reminiscences. He explains that he has had 'several afterthoughts as a result of our original talk', and that this is the reason for 'inflicting another letter upon' Macqueen-Pope, whom he is 'anxious to provide [...] with the fullest evidence of my experience with Ivor'. The 'scraps of memory are disconnected', and Hassall has arranged them in eleven numbered sections. Hassall describes the circumstances of Ivor Novello’s winning entry, with lyrics by Hassall, in 'a competition for a song to be launched with our forces on D. Day'. The song was 'Clear the Road to Glory', which Hassall states 'was published by Chappell, given one performance on the air, then dropped and the whole edition was pulped. In an unguarded moment, thinking the time for anonymity was over, Ivor spoke to a reporter, who quoted the lyric and our names on the front page of the Telegraph. This almost exactly coincided with the publication of Ivor's prison sentence. This was one of our most bitter disappointments.'
Other topics include: Ivor Novello’s extraordinary gentleness of manner in private life'; the items on Ivor Novello's piano; the 'improvements' made to Redroofs after the success of Glamorous Night.
Hassall also includes typed transcripts of four letters to him from Ivor Novello. He also writes that Ivor Novello 'would wear sun-glasses when going to a Cinema, so as not to be recognized [...] I think it's worth mentioning that he was probably the first "star" to be mobbed by his fans - now so common at Premieres - but then, it was everywhere, in the Provinces and almost every night, and because of a stage, not a film, performance. At Newcastle they actually pulled the door off his car, at Leeds once, when I was with him, they pulled the belt off his coat. In those days this sort of thing was a social phenomenon.' (10 items)
2/13) Typescript copy letter from Macqueen-Pope to Barry Jones, (1893-1981), (Stage and Screen Actor), 4th April 1951, acknowledging the undated miscellaneous episodic autograph reminiscences [on Campden Hill Square letterheads]. The first section reads: 'I met "Mam" first - in New York City in the early twenties. Joyce Carey took me to a party given by Madame Novello Davies & there too I met Lilian Braithwaite for the first time. I was to meet Mam many times more but her first remark was typical of the confident affection between mother & son. "Do you know my boy?" & not waiting for a reply she glowed on "isn't he wonderful"…. "When my mother, then about 85, saw Glam. Night - Ivor had heard of it & decorated the box with orchids as he did for "Mam". Orchids could hardly have been wronger than for my mother, but the thought was there!' Carbon of letter from Macqueen-Pope to Jones, 4 April 1951, thanking him for 'the material': 'I have not yet gone through it carefully but it looks just what I want. You are always to be relied upon.' He ends in 'strict confidence', with the news that 'our friend the late Fuhrer of ENSA is in trouble with The Apple Cart'. (2 items)
2/14) Three signed typescript letters from Henry [Harry] Kendall (Actor) and three typescript copy replies from Macqueen-Pope, 1951. (6 items)
2/15) Keneth Kent (1892-1963) (Actor and one of Ivor Novello's oldest friends). Autograph card, signed, agreeing to a meeting at the Caprice, p.m. 3 July 1951. With carbons of two letters from Macqueen-Pope to Kent, in one of which, 9 July 1951, he thanks him for 'some lovely stories of the utmost value and some most illuminating remarks as well'.
A typed memorandum headed 'Keneth Kent', presumably made out by Macqueen-Pope after their meeting. Begins: 'Met Ivor when 16 at Cairn Hydro. Told another boy was coming and reacted badly. Saw Ivor get out of fly with Mam. Liked him.' Includes: 'Ivor’s disbelief in after life' and 'Ivor as girl at Fancy Dress dance at Harrogate, man who kissed him and got his face smacked.' (4 items)
2/16) Suzanne McCrory (Ivor Novello's Cardiff 'schoolmistress'). Three-page autograph reminiscences, titled 'A Little about Ivor Novello'. At end: 'This to be included in "Le Jour expire" The story of a French Aunt… by Anne Hastings'. With three autograph signed letters from her to Macqueen-Pope, 19, 26 and 29 March 1951. In the first, which accompanies the reminiscences, she writes: 'I hope to broadcast something of long ago about him. If it is of any use to you, you can have it. I taught Ivor his first song when he was six at his first school in Cathedral Rd. Cardiff. He brought the house down then you may be sure; he was an adorable little boy [...] I got in touch quite lately as I am writing a story - that of my life - a varied one - spent partly in France, Germany & in Schools here.' Two of MP's replies, in the second of which he writes regarding Ivor Novello's first song: 'I remember the song myself. It was called "Tatters" - and began "Tatters, with his little broom, stands amid the crowd, in the gaslight, in the gloom, where the strife is loud". It had a great vogue and I was guilty of singing it myself - with great effect, as a small boy. Like Ivor, when my voice broke, I could never sing again.' (7 items)
2/17) Two typescript copy letters from Macqueen-Pope and autograph reply from Eddie Marsh (Polymath), accepting an invitation to meet, [1951]. (3 items)
2/18) D. L. Murray (Novelist, Editor of The Times Literary Supplement). Letter of sympathy sent to Macqueen-Pope following Novello’s death, together with a copy of the reply ‘the English musical stage ‘is out’’. Also two signed typescript letters from Murray congratulating Macqueen-Pope on his book, 1951. (5 items)
2/19) Four typescript letters and copy letters between Peter Noble (Biographer) and W. J. Macqueen-Pope, 1951. Both authors of biographical works on Ivor Novello. (4 items)
2/20) Typescript copy letter from Macqueen-Pope together with an autograph reply from G.B. Stern (Novelist) apologising for him changing his mind regarding the sharing of his memories of Novello with him. (2 items)
2/21) Typescript autographed letter from Jean Webster-Brough (Actress) to Macqueen-Pope in response to a request to contribute to his book. In return she requests a contribution from Macqueen-Pope to her own book, 1951. (2 items)
2/22) Typescript copy letter from Macqueen-Pope to G.H. Gay (Warner Bros.) requesting a contribution to his book. Signed typescript reply on Warner Bros. headed paper.

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