Hello Lily, what a lovely post. I too have a WG pen story; many years ago, I had written a poem called 'The Pen Of Winston Graham', my friends urged me to send it to him- eventually I did. He responded very graciously, sending me the pen that he had used to mark up his latest work. Unfortunately it was crushed by the post, an apology from them accompanied the package. I didn't tell him that the pen was crushed, but did tell him that it would always be treasured. It is. Its a green bic.
Bells ..... I think she must have meant 'Bella', as it's the last Poldark book and there isn't one called Clowance. What a lucky lady to have met Winston Graham who sounds just as gracious as I'd imagined him to be and Angharad too, amazing!
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Tide was nearly full. Mist lay in a grey scarf along the line of the cliffs. .. and they walked home hand in hand through the slanting shadows of the new darkness.
He met his wife two hundred yards from the cottages. As always it was a peculiar pleasure to see her face light up, and she came running and hopping to meet him.
A year and a few months before Winston passed on, I was able to get his address and correspond with him to tell him how much I love his work's and Poldark. I got to meet him at the PAS Luncheon in 1998 in London. I will never for get that he didn't have a pen to sign autographs and such, so I pulled out a huge pen that my sister had given me. It must have measured 2.5 inches in the middle. It had a floating yellow rubber ducky suspended in blue liquid for the water and clear for the sky. I gave it to Winston to keep as an inspiration to write another book, and he gave me a kiss on the cheek. From then on, I would send him some very funny pens. I called it "the pen of the month club."
The following week, I met Angarad Rees in her jewelry shop, and it's a long story, but a few months later I received a letter from Winston Graham apologizing that Robin Ellis had not made it to the Luncheon, and how he felt bad I had traveled from the Pacific Northwest in the US to meet him, only for Robin Ellis not to be able to make the Luncheon at the last minute, and for the very first time! When Clowence...the last Poldark book came out, I sent it to Winston Graham to sign, and he graciously did, and sent it back at lightening speed, as he said:" I did not want your mind to be tortured by not being able to read Clowence, while the book was with me!" In his letters, he discribed how he had been injured by falling down some steps. He told me he had broken both ankles. He also sent me a picture of himself looking quite dashing! I will never forget that. Here Winston was, such an important writer, and he treated me with such importance!
What a wonderful man he was!
Lily
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"Perfection is a full stop .... Ever the climbing but never the attaining Of the mountain top." W.G.
As it is eventually intended to create a Winston Graham Archive of relevant donated and otherwise material for future sources of reference and research, the Society would be very interested to hear from anyone possessing, and who would perhaps be willing to share or donate, any correspondence or suchlike from him on this Forum.
Also a general meeting place to chat and learn more about Winston Graham and Poldark book collections, finds and general memorabilia etc. At some stage it is also hoped the Society will be able to put together a permanent collection of all aspects of Winston Graham's works and memorabilia as well.
Updated 10/6/12
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"Perfection is a full stop .... Ever the climbing but never the attaining Of the mountain top." W.G.