'Meeting held at Oakdene; 6.XII.'32.
Sylvanus A. Reynolds in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved.
2. A statement of the Club's accounts was read.
[...]
6. After the interval we listened to a most enjoyable little play, "Lonesome Like" by Harold
Brighouse
The Lancashire dialect was more than usually well suggested & much added to our
appreciation.
The parts were taken as follows:—
Celia Burrow
Rosamund Wallis
George Burrow
Reginald Robson'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth T. Alexander Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Broomfield, Cressingham Rd., 14.XI.33.
George H. S. Burrow in the chair
1. Minutes of last read & approved
2. [...]At the close of the meeting three unhappy pedagogues crept into a corner of the
Broomfield drawing room
[...]
4. The Chairman & Secretary made a count of the votes cast by ballot to fill the vacant places in
our membership. A number of attractive names had been before the club and the voting brought
Margaret L. Lloyd and Mrs Goadby to the head of the poll. These ladies were duly invited and
both have gladly accepted their invitation and agreed to join the Club.
[...]
6. A statement of the accounts was read showing the Club to have £2.9.0 in hand.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth T. Alexander Manuscript: Unknown
Meeting held at 233 Shinfield Road, 29 XI. 1934
1. At Mrs Goadby’s request, C. E. Stansfield took the chair, and in the absence of the
Secretary, F. E. Pollard took his place.
2. Minutes of last approved as presenting the spirit of the meeting.
[...]
6. A statement of accounts was presented, showing (subject to some members realizing that
their subscriptions were still unpaid) a balance of £1. 18 0.
[...]
8. The committee appointed to bring in a list of books for the coming year presented some
thirty to choose from, & a recommended selection. The voting was somewhat confused, at
times bordering upon the riotous[...].'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth T. Alexander Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at St. Swithin’s, Shepherd’s Lane : 22.XI.35
the Secretary in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved.
[...]
3. A statement of accounts was then read, showing the Club to be in a sound financial position.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth T. Alexander Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 70, Northcourt Avenue:- 1.12.36
C. E. Stansfield in the Chair
1. Minutes of last read + approved
4. The Secretary presented a statement of accounts showing the Club to have a balance of £1-
18-0, with money from the auction still to come.
6. Readings were then given by the following people.
F. E. Pollard: from Lloyd George’s Memoirs.
Dorothea Taylor from Quennells
A Rawlings: the story of Hervé Riel
H. R. Smith: from Nevinson’s Between Two [sic] Wars.
V. W. Alexander: from W. F. Harvey’s "We were seven".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth T. Alexander Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Gower Cottage 4th. May 1942.
M. Stevens in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read, pronounced rather more accurate
than usual, and signed.
[...]
4. First we had the telegram which was from the Alexanders, regretting that a
chicken pox epidemic among the children prevented their parents from
contributing to our evenings entertainment.
5. Next an essay entitled “An Autumn Ramble” was read by A. G. Joselin and the
author was later identified as S. A. Reynolds, who told us that it had been written
some 50 years ago.
[...]
7. Roger Moore read an essay entitled “Langdale, Easter 1942” and casting among
our members for a rock-climber we soon realized that the author was Knox
Taylor. [...]
8. Rosamund Wallis read “Samuel Butler at the Book Club” which was recognised
at once as being written by the secretary. She had rather let herself go in an
account of an imaginary meeting which explained the unusual brevity and accuracy
of this months minutes.
9. “Three Weeks in Kerry” was the title of a most interesting essay read by F. E.
Pollard. We had some difficulty in identifying this as being written by his wife –
perhaps because although we were told it had been written many years ago in the
author’s ‘comparative youth’ our imaginations failed to picture Mrs. Pollard on a
perilous journey in an Irish car, holding up an umbrella with one hand and and
peeling a hard-boiled egg with the other. [...]
10. A. B. Dilks read a dissertation in which the author wrote for some four or five
pages on the difficulty of deciding what to write about. Roger Fry, food, gardens
and cats were among the subjects he considered but for one reason or another,
laid aside. As members of the Book Club are so noted for beating around the bush
we had considerable difficulty in spotting this particular beater — but it proved to
be Roger Moore.
[...]
[Signature of] A. B. Dilks 6th June 1942'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: [Unnamed member of the XII Book Club] Print: Telegram
'Meeting held at Gower Cottage, Elm Road.
18–7–40
M Stevens in the chair.
1. Minutes of last were read and signed.
[...]
3. The Treasurer (V. W. Alexander) gave a statement of accounts up to the end of
1939, which showed the astonishingly large balance of £4/10/2. The statement was
accepted.
4. The Secretary (also V. W. Alexander) reported having received a letter of
resignation from Howard and Elsie Sikes who are no longer able to attend our
meetings. We are sorry to lose them.
5. Mary S. W. Pollard read a letter of resignation from Victor W. and Elizabeth
Alexander, who are leaving Reading. A telegram had been received from Elizabeth
Alexander during the day, wishing the Club “goodbye & good luck, with thanks for
many merry meetings.” Howard Smith expressed our gratitude for the very
valuable services of V. W. Alexander & his wife as Secretary and Treasurer, &
afterwards drafted a letter of thanks & good wishes to Elizabeth Alexander, which
was signed by all present.
6. As his last duty for us, V. W. Alexander wrote a letter of affectionate greeting
to Charles Stansfield who has been ill for many weeks. This was signed by all.
7. M. Stevens was asked to write minutes for this time.
[signed as a true record by] A. B. Dilks
20 Aug 40.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Pollard Manuscript: Letter
'Meeting held at Gower Cottage, Elm Road.
18–7–40
M Stevens in the chair.
1. Minutes of last were read and signed.
[...]
3. The Treasurer (V. W. Alexander) gave a statement of accounts up to the end of
1939, which showed the astonishingly large balance of £4/10/2. The statement was
accepted.
4. The Secretary (also V. W. Alexander) reported having received a letter of
resignation from Howard and Elsie Sikes who are no longer able to attend our
meetings. We are sorry to lose them.
5. Mary S. W. Pollard read a letter of resignation from Victor W. and Elizabeth
Alexander, who are leaving Reading. A telegram had been received from Elizabeth
Alexander during the day, wishing the Club “goodbye & good luck, with thanks for
many merry meetings.” Howard Smith expressed our gratitude for the very
valuable services of V. W. Alexander & his wife as Secretary and Treasurer, &
afterwards drafted a letter of thanks & good wishes to Elizabeth Alexander, which
was signed by all present.
6. As his last duty for us, V. W. Alexander wrote a letter of affectionate greeting
to Charles Stansfield who has been ill for many weeks. This was signed by all.
7. M. Stevens was asked to write minutes for this time.
[signed as a true record by] A. B. Dilks
20 Aug 40.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Members of the XII Book Club Print: Telegram
'Meeting held at Frensham, Northcourt Avenue, 13.xii.40
Howard R. Smith in the chair.
1. An apology for absence was read from Mr. & Mrs. Joselyn.
2. Minutes of last meeting were read & signed.
[...]
4. Mrs. Pollard read a letter from Elizabeth Alexander telling of a very unfortunate
accident which had befallen our late secretary. Mrs. Pollard was asked, when
writing, to convey to the Alexanders our sympathy and hopes for a very speedy
recovery.
[...]
6. Typed lists of books suggested for this year’s reading were handed round an F.
E. Pollard made a few brief explanatory remarks about each book. Some doubt
was expressed regarding the number of books to be purchased this year in view of
our depleted numbers, but a brief journey into the realms of the higher
mathematics soon satisfied everyone that if we counted our single members
separately instead of in pairs, 12 books would provide one per house per month.
[...]
[...]
[Signed by] A. B. Dilks
10.2.41'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Pollard Manuscript: Letter
