Gillian at Malory Towers

Use this forum to discuss the author herself.
Green Hedges
Posts: 253
Joined: 28 Jan 2005, 12:09
Location: Tayside, Scotland
Contact:

Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Green Hedges »

Having had a look at Gillian's Diary at Seven Stories, I've written a piece on how her real life experience seems to into the first of Enid's Malory Towers book. The link is here: http://www.enidblyton.me.uk/styled-15/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Duncan
Last edited by Green Hedges on 24 Aug 2012, 11:44, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26770
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Gillian (in her diary in June 1946) wrote:In the letter Mummy wrote she said she thought I would make a good actress and that if I wanted to be an actress she and Daddy would back me up.
It's interesting that by the age of 14 (and perhaps even earlier) Gillian was referring to Kenneth as "Daddy".
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
chloe1
Posts: 204
Joined: 16 Sep 2009, 22:00

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by chloe1 »

What a lovely article - thank you so much for sharing.

It fills me with joy that Malory Towers could have been based on a real school. The setting is wonderfully described in the books and even now I wish I could be a pupil there and experience the world that she created.

The observations on the comparisons with Gillian and her mothers messages to her daughter through the story are very interesting. I really enjoyed reading it - thank you again.
Katharine
Posts: 12284
Joined: 25 Nov 2009, 15:50

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Katharine »

I really enjoyed reading this article. Apart from the comparisons between Gillian's school life and that of Malory Towers I also felt it redressed the balance of Enid's image as a mother, which has often been seen in a very negative light by the media.

I know that Enid hasn't always been seen as the ideal mother, especially when compared to the mothers she portrayed in many of her books, however from the extracts from Gillian's diary it would suggest that Enid wasn't a 'bad' mother either.

The long letters, the treats she sent and more importantly the support she was willing to give Gillian in her chosen career just don't add up to a totally uncaring mother.

I was interested to see the photo of Lulworth Castle. The drawings for Malory Towers also put me in mind of Bodiam Castle, is it possible there might be a link there too?
Society Member
User avatar
Eddie Muir
Posts: 14566
Joined: 13 Oct 2007, 22:28
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
Favourite character: Fatty
Location: Brighton

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Eddie Muir »

I know what you mean about Bodiam Castle, Katharine. The Towers Convent School in Upper Beeding, Steyning, West Sussex always puts me in mind of Malory Towers. It is about 11 miles from where I live in Brighton.

Image
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.

Society Member
Katharine
Posts: 12284
Joined: 25 Nov 2009, 15:50

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Katharine »

That's a lovely looking building. Reminds me of German castles.
Society Member
User avatar
Julie2owlsdene
Posts: 15244
Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 20:15
Favourite book/series: F.F. and Mystery Series - Five get into Trouble
Favourite character: Dick
Location: Cornwall

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Great article, loved reading about Gillian's diary. I've been to the Hotel Bristol in Newquay, and didn't know that it was Gillians school for a short while in the 40's.

8)
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

Society Member
User avatar
Viking Star
Posts: 1417
Joined: 03 Apr 2006, 20:13
Favourite book/series: Mystery, Adventure and Secret series.
Favourite character: Fatty, Mrs Hilton and Philip
Location: Vauxhall, London

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Viking Star »

Very interesting thanks Duncan!
This is a Green Knight Book which means that it is a book by one of the most popular authors of all.
Green Hedges
Posts: 253
Joined: 28 Jan 2005, 12:09
Location: Tayside, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Green Hedges »

Thanks for these responses to this piece. I've now extended it to cover Second Form at Malory Towers. The link is still http://www.enidblyton.me.uk/styled-3/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re your comments:
Anita. Yes, Gillian is calling Kenneth 'Daddy' in Jan 1946, when she was 14 and a half. Imogen and Gillian were told about the marriage in autumn 1943, when Gillian was 12. I expect Imogen was also calling him Daddy by 1946 or before, since when Gillian got her name changed to Darrell Waters prior to going to Benenden, Imogen asked that her name be changed as well, as she tells us in A Chlldhood at Green Hedges. Not that Imogen seems to have had a warm attachment to her step-father. She just didn't want to be the only one left with an obsolete surname!

Julie. The Hotel Bristol in Newquay has been in the Young family for 4 generations. I've written to the present owner to see if there are any photos of Enid or info about her visit(s) to the hotel when it was functioning as Benenden School. I expect there was a half term visit in autumn of 1945. That may have been all. But if it was the only visit, it was enough to set Enid's imagination off and inspire a rich seam of writing.

Duncan
User avatar
Julie2owlsdene
Posts: 15244
Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 20:15
Favourite book/series: F.F. and Mystery Series - Five get into Trouble
Favourite character: Dick
Location: Cornwall

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Love reading the diary of Gillian's, it brings a lump to the throat!

I hope you'll keep us updated Duncan as to the response from the family at the Hotel Bristol.

8)
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26770
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

It's interesting to read the diary entries. How strange that Enid Blyton sent Gillian her fountain pen, blue crayon and red crayon one by one over the course of a few days - unless that method saved on postage or something!

There's a reference to "Imp" (February 20th), probably meaning Imogen I expect. Did Gillian call her "Imp" then, or is it possible that the word was "Imo"? Just wondering!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
Green Hedges
Posts: 253
Joined: 28 Jan 2005, 12:09
Location: Tayside, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Green Hedges »

Yes, Anita, Gillian uses the term 'Imp' repeatedly, I think when referring to Imogen. She may even use 'Imp' exclusively when referring to her. At Seven Stories, I was making pencil notes quite quickly and can't say for sure whether in the quote I use in the first part of the piece, where Gillian is talking about her temper and knocking 'Imogen' down, whether the word in the diary is 'Imp' or 'Imo' or 'Imogen'. The rest of that quote is accurate.

Coincidentally, the only word I changed from my notes when typing up my piece was the word 'crepon' (which isn't in the dictionary) to crayon. In other words, my pencil notes say the following:

Feb 23: I got a parcel from Mummy containing a letter, my fountain pen and The Castle of Adventure.
Feb 26: I got a parcel in which was my crepon (blue) a few assorted fudge and a note from Mummy. I also got a letter from Mummy and one from Imp.
Feb 28: I got my red crayon and a letter from Mummy.

As I recalled being unsure about the word 'crepon' when I originally noted it, when I was typing the piece I decided the word was probably 'crayon', but that does lead to your query. Why the drip feed of writing implements? I suspect letters went back and forth quite often. In thanking Enid for the fountain pen, Gillian may have asked for her crayon. On getting the blue crayon she may have said that the one she meant was the red! And Enid, with nothing better to do with her time, went upstairs to the nursery to fetch the red crayon!

Next time I'm at Seven Stories, quite soon, I'll check one or two such things out.
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Moonraker »

A crepon is a heavy crépe fabric - maybe it was from her wardrobe, a type of tunic.
Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26770
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Thanks for the clarifications, Duncan - and Nigel.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
Green Hedges
Posts: 253
Joined: 28 Jan 2005, 12:09
Location: Tayside, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Gillian at Malory Towers

Post by Green Hedges »

Seven Stories has kindly sent me their own transcription of Gillian's diary for 1946. That takes the word to be crepon both times. This is obviously correct as on Jan 10th Gillian writes: 'This morning I went up to London. Mummy bought me 3 summer frocks red, mauve and green, a cherry red crepon, an aertex blouse, a green overall, a super pair of pyjamas and 2 tricolour tunics.'

So the extract from Gillian's diary becomes:

Feb 23: I got a parcel from Mummy containing a letter, my fountain pen and The Castle of Adventure.
Feb 26: I got a parcel in which was my crepon (blue) a few assorted fudge and a note from Mummy. I also got a letter from Mummy and one from Imp.
Feb 28: I got my red crepon and a letter from Mummy.

Glad that's cleared up. If Enid really had sent Gillian three writing implements in a week it might have looked as if she was encouraging her daughter to follow in her footsteps and become a writer. (Only joking!)
Post Reply