Macqueen-Pope: Miscellaneous Correspondence, mainly in response to Macqueen-Pope's biography,

Mrs Mary L. Mills, 'of Welsh extract [sic]', knew Madam Clara Novello Davies, and was hoping to 'contact "Ivor" for a private audition for her daughter Pauline, a RADA-trained actress.
Miss G. M. Jenkins of Barry, Glamorgan, gives information regarding '2 large photographs' of an infant Ivor Novello which she is sending (Macqueen-Pope notes that he has returned them). She also writes: 'I knew Ivor as a small boy, & his Mother, & Father. Though I never saw him after he was about 16, [...] I think I may add that as a family we loved Ivor, Madam Clara & Dava her husband.' There is a denunciatory letter of Macqueen-Pope's 'vile book' from 'G. S.' of Richmond, in which the writer declares: '[I] won't dream of buying the book as I feel it's disgusting. What had Ivor done to you, that you should be so bitter & spiteful! To thousands like myself who knew Ivor to be a kind, gentle creature nothing you, nor others like you, can write will ever shake our belief in him [...] loyalty was a strong trait in his character. A thing apparently unknown to you. What a happy world it could be if there were more Ivor Novellos, & less Mc Queen Popes! More love & laughter, less hatred & wars!' Agnes and Rose Morley request admission to Ivor’s memorial service: 'We had known Mr. Novello for 26 years, & we were well known as the "Feathers." ' E. B. Edmondson, sending 'a piece of Manuscript Music signed by Clara Novello, dated Liverpool April 18th. 1854' (not present). Ida Iltner sends a cutting (not present) of a review of 'Ivor: The Story of an Achievement' from the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette. Replying to a letter from C. Murray, Macqueen-Pope states that 'The book was a bit of a job to write and I have been really astonished that it has been so well received.' A compliments slip from Claude L. Westell of the Birmingham Mail is present, eliciting thanks from Macqueen-Pope's for his 'charming review of my book' (the review is not present). Kathleen Westoby sending the condolences of 'the Inner Wheel of Southgate' (Macqueen-Pope that her 'charming letter' has 'helped considerably').
Three letters have a spiritualist slant. One is a six-page letter from D. Mills of London, indicating derangement ('I have always watched over you from a distance [...] She told me that she had been given a message by a medium which was so clearly for me'); another is from Mrs A. Thomas of Llanbedr, Conway, saying that Macqueen-Pope's article on Ivor Novello in the Sunday Reynolds News 'did really cheer me up', and having lost her 'only son & only relation' asks if Macqueen-Pope is a spiritualist, and has had contact with the dead Ivor Novello; another, from Iris Harman, states: 'Life does not finish when one passes from the earth plane - and Mr. Novello will know that'.
Also letters from Grace Reed, J. Blackmore; Mrs L. Brock; Miss P. K. Reeves (making two detailed suggestions regarding Ivor Novello productions and the BBC); postcard from F. Watson; Mrs Gwyther.
A number of letters are from acquaintances of Ivor Novello: Dollie Broadbridge thanks Macqueen-Pope for the book: 'what thrilled me most was coming face to face with myself in the index - I've never been indexed before!' Jessie M. Bertoldi writes regarding Macqueen-Pope's 'forthcoming tussle with the Sunday Express', eliciting a reply (21 November 1951) in which Macqueen-Pope states that he has 'won Round One of the Sunday Express combat but it continues. The book is out and most of the papers have helped themselves liberally and have printed what are really feature articles - which they get for nothing, of course.' F. J. Cary Willoughby (nephew of actor Arthur Chudleigh) writes to tell Macqueen-Pope 'how sorry everyone in Jamaica is over the passing of Ivor Novello. Since he has been out here, he has really become very popular, amongst all the classes, and will be sadly missed especially in "Montego Bay"'. Basil Francis writes (18 November 1951) a long letter from Putney, stating that he is 'preparing a review' of the book: 'As I read, I couldn't help feeling that you were giving a little too much space to the wretched court case and its repercussions [...] My worst fears came true when I saw today's Sunday Chronicle, and I can't think you authorised their treatment of the story. If it is intended to be a book-review (as it purports to be) they have done a pretty unethical thing by jumping the gun [...] The blunt facts are that Ivor was a party to "fiddling" petrol coupons; he tried to square a police officer; and he dropped a good deal in most people's estimation by his unchivalrous treatment of the girl in the case.' Accompanying Francis's letter is a carbon of a letter by Macqueen-Pope giving a long and spirited defence of Ivor Novello ('It was the beginning of his end. It was the planting of the seed which killed him.'). Also: Robert W. Fenn (with reference to 'our project'); Leslie [Bloom] writes regarding 'the Ellen Terry Award', with reference to 'the Club's dinner to Ivor'. In replying to a letter from C. V. H. Vincent, Macqueen-Pope states that the Sunday Chronicle 'pinched a packet of the book and made it into a feature article, free, gratis and for nothing. Something will have to be done about this sort of thing - all too prevalent. "Empire News" and "Reynold's" did the same - a bit hard on "The Sunday Express" who had bought the serial rights for a pretty good sum of money. [...] Ivor did a bit better than Gounod, didn't he? But he was as good a business man as Vincent Novello'.
Also present is a carbon of a letter from Macqueen-Pope to 'Arnold', i.e. Arnold Russell of Reynold's News: 'you have caused trouble and strife with the Sunday Express - who paid me a lot of money for the serial rights'.

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