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Thread: Just William (Read 6555 times) |
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Kevin Cryan
MV Fellow
I love Midnight Voices!
Posts: 1144
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Just William
« : 28.04.09 at 13:37 » |
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It might be interest to those who have followed Pete's career in broadcasting to know that Richmal Crompton’s Just William is one of 35 titles chosen to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Children's Laureateship..
I don’t know whether or not Anne Fine, the laureate who choice Just William is, has ever listened to Martin Jarvis' readings of the Just William stories – many of which were either produced or directed by Pete – or whether or not they influenced her choice in any way, but I can say they are so very good that I still read many of the stories without feeling any sense that I might be wasting my time, or reading something that is beneath me.
Kevin Cryan
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=offtopic&action=display&num=1240922267&start=0#0  |
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Murray McGlew
MV Feature
I love Midnight Voices!
Posts: 55
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Re: Just William
« Reply #1: 29.04.09 at 12:18 » |
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Following the Martin Jarvis link in Kevin's post I was surprised to find that Richmal Crompton was a woman. I don't know why I assumed otherwise, I've never seen the name used for a man either. Still, my track record is not good; I went for twenty years thinking Harper Lee was male.
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=offtopic&action=display&num=1240922267&start=1#1 |
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Seán Kelly
MV Fixture
Posts: 239
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Re: Just William
« Reply #2: 12.05.09 at 15:13 » |
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Didn't she mean everyone to think that she was a man by using a non-gendered but slightly male sounding name? Probably thought us boys would be put off otherwise Murray (probably right too!)
S
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=offtopic&action=display&num=1240922267&start=2#2 |
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Ian Chippett
MV Fellow
In the clear at over fifty-five
Posts: 332
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Re: Just William
« Reply #3: 12.05.09 at 15:54 » |
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Sean wrote:
<<Didn't she mean everyone to think that she was a man by using a non-gendered but slightly male sounding name? Probably thought us boys would be put off otherwise Murray (probably right too!) >>
I wasn't put off Enid Blyton (not until comparatively recent years anyway) by her name. I was a big Noddy fan (had the Collected Works at one point) and remember with pleasure "The Boy Next Door," which I read and re-read. I remember Clive reviewing a TV programme about Enid and marvelling at the speed with which she wrote, probably even faster and more prolific than Clive.
Ian C
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=offtopic&action=display&num=1240922267&start=3#3 |
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Rob Spence
MV Fixture
Hypertension Kid
Posts: 185
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Re: Just William
« Reply #4: 12.05.09 at 16:33 » |
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on 12.05.09 at 15:13, Seán Kelly wrote:Didn't she mean everyone to think that she was a man by using a non-gendered but slightly male sounding name? Probably thought us boys would be put off otherwise Murray (probably right too!)
S |
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Err... Richmal was her name, her real name, so I don't think there's any question of using it. It is a rare name, true, but a proper one. I have a female colleague called Richmal, who, it strikes me, might well have been named after Ms Crompton. I'll have to ask.
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=offtopic&action=display&num=1240922267&start=4#4 |
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Ian Chippett
MV Fellow
In the clear at over fifty-five
Posts: 332
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Re: Just William
« Reply #5: 12.05.09 at 18:32 » |
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Didn't the Beatles do a song called "Baby, You're A Richmal?" Probably not.
Ian C
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=offtopic&action=display&num=1240922267&start=5#5 |
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Leslie Moss
MV Fixture
Marmite Soldier
Posts: 161
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Re: Just William
« Reply #6: 26.05.09 at 10:48 » |
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When I was a kid I used to visit my grandparents' house in Derby. The house was a cornucopia of stuff for kids, and one day I was able to bring back home with me a whole set of thin red hardbacks - all of them Just William books. They were some of my most enjoyable reading as a kid. They got left behind when I left my parents home and subsequently, when they moved out the books found a good home and hopefully a new generation of readers.
Leslie
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=offtopic&action=display&num=1240922267&start=6#6 |
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Seán Kelly
MV Fixture
Posts: 239
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Re: Just William
« Reply #7: 31.05.09 at 11:11 » |
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on 12.05.09 at 16:33, Rob Spence wrote:
Err... Richmal was her name, her real name, so I don't think there's any question of using it. |
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Thanks Rob - faulty memory syndrome (again... possibly!)
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=offtopic&action=display&num=1240922267&start=7#7 |
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