Door Onto The World

There are so many lovely and interesting people who visit our shop - Stella Books in Tintern in the Wye valley. It is a joy to work here - surrounded by books, all sorts, sizes and subjects, with their own special atmosphere, and with the wonderful view of the Tintern Abbey, the wooded hills and tidal river.

We have people who visit us from across the globe and those who come in from just down the road to share their memories and knowledge with us. I have learned much over the last couple of years - here are some snippets I'd like to share with you.

How do you know if you have a first edition dustwrapper on Five On Kirrin Island Again (left), one of Enid Blyton's Famous Five series? George is looking through the wrong end of the telescope! This was corrected and appeared the right way round in the 3rd edition.

Which Rupert Bear annual is as rare as hens' teeth? The1973 Rupert annual with the brown face Rupert on the cover - this was a marketing proof which was replaced by the subsequent printing of Rupert with a white face on the cover. The change to a white face was done without Alfred Bestall's knowledge or consent and he resigned over the matter. There was such an outcry from Rupert fans that the 1974 cover reverted to Rupert with a brown face!

Why are pineapples carved in stone often found atop imposing gate posts? In order to grow them in glass houses in the UK much horse manure was needed to create the correct growing conditions, and so the pineapple was used on the gates as an emblem of wealth. Good choice I thought.

Did you know that the dahlia flowers (above right) were named after an 18th century Swedish botanist, Anders Dahl? - so the flower Dahlia should be pronounced in the same way as in Roald Dahl, the author.

What do Charles Hamilton, Frank Richards and Martin Clifford have in common? They are one and the same person - Charles Hamilton, better known as Frank Richards, author of the Billy Bunter books. Richards also used the names of Martin Clifford for his St. Jim's series and Hilda Richards for his Bessie Bunter books.

I was told that the character of Just-William was based on Richmal Crompton's nephew who once worked in a bank where he was asked to deliver some money bags. The van's back door wouldn't close so he tied it with string - needless to say a couple of bags fell out during the journey! Another gentleman told me that the little red tricycle featured in the illustrations from the Molly Brett children's books is his - he lived a few doors away from her and knew her quite well.

A lady who visited our shop knew the daughter of Ivor and Mercedes Waters who together have written and illustrated so many books about Chepstow, our nearest town. She told me that Linda creates miniatures and has a gift of high attention to detail, a trait inherited from her parents who printed their books themselves. It's nice to know that Linda Waters still lives in the family home.

Customers who come into the shop have a variety of tales to tell - one had found the house that Flora Klickmann lived in at Brockweir, the next village, where she wrote some of her books such as The Flower Patch series which were all about her garden on the banks of the River Wye. Another was overjoyed to find a car book, VSCC Golden Jubilee, which has one of his illustrations in it - he signs himself as Mog. Yet another told me his story of being invited to tea with Anthony Buckeridge, author of the Jennings books. As a child this gentleman bought Jennings books regularly. It transpired that the lady who owned the bookshop knew the author and she arranged for them to meet. He found Mr. Buckeridge to be a most kindly and charming man.

Lastly there are the stories that touch the heart. A lady who visited our shop was overjoyed to receive for her sixtieth birthday a book she had last heard on the radio as she nursed her new born child over forty years earlier. An old lady in her nineties was also reunited with a book from her child hood. When she was eight years old her strict father had caught her reading a book by the fireside - this was forbidden and he threw the book into the flames! She was delighted that at last she could hold the book in her hands once more and read it in peace.

I hope you've enjoyed these tidbits as much as I've enjoyed hearing them. Do visit us - a warm welcome awaits.

Contributed by Rosemary Hanley

(Published 7th Oct 2014)