Beschreibung:

DescriptionJohn Betjeman
Lengthy series of 69 letters signed (some autograph, some typed) and 21 cards, to John Arlott  
warm and friendly letters discussing books, poetry, architecture, conservation and development, as well as personal affairs, with related material including an autograph manuscript draft of an excoriating review of John Gloag's "Guide to Western Architecture", 3 pages [published in The Spectator, 24 January 1958], printed copies of poems (some signed by Betjeman), printed ephemera and cuttings, c.134 pages, 12 December 1942 to 24 November 1980
A CHRONICLE OF JOHN BETJEMAN'S LONG FRIENDSHIP WITH "THE VOICE OF CRICKET".
When future Poet Laureate John Betjeman made a chance remark to his friend Geoffrey Grigson, a radio producer at the BBC, in 1944 he never knew it would change the life of a Southampton policeman. In 1944 Betjeman was far from being Poet Laureate. He was press attaché at the British Embassy in Ireland. He had written some poetry and the Shell Guides to Devon and Cornwall. The Southampton policeman was John Arlott (1914-91) who became arguably the most famous radio broadcaster in the country for the next 20-30 years.
During the war Police Sergeant, later Detective, Arlott had got a few poems published and pursued publication possibilities with relentless correspondence. One such correspondent was Betjeman, and an epistolary friendship soon blossomed. Betjeman encouraged Arlott's poetry and encouraged him to read more widely: “Do have a look at Geoffrey Grigson’s Anthology ‘The Romantics’ (Routledge 10/6). It is a knock out, I think. Full of lovely little known things” (21 December 1942). Arlott was accepted as a writer/ collaborator on “The Oxford Book of Topographical Poetry,” which was reviewed by John Betjeman in the Daily Herald in 1944. It was around this time that Betjeman mentioned to his friend Geoffrey Grigson that he had met this policeman who was also a poet which might make a good broadcast.
Short of local stories with so many away during the war, Grigson contacted Arlott for an audition. Arlott nearly blew his chance by saying he was not prepared to be “considered a freak” because he was a policeman who wrote poetry. After the audition Grigson noted “This man is a natural broadcaster who needs to be encouraged,” but to Arlott just said “We had better see if you can write.” Grigson rejected Arlott’s first attempts at radio broadcast scripts but eventually accepted “The Hampshire Giants” about the Hambledon village team who defeated the All England XI 37 times between 1772 and 1796.
Betjeman and Arlott remained friends for the rest of their lives. Betjeman was Godfather to Arlott’s second son Tim and perhaps overfond of Arlott’s first wife Dawn (see lot 106). Over the years Arlott continued to send his poetry to Betjeman for honest criticism ("...The atmosphere, the story & the personalities splendid oh splendid & the climax grand. But the metre no....", 3 October 1952). There are letters that touch on more personal subjects - Betjeman reflects on his mother's death in one letter, and in another acknowledges that he can "faintly feel the agony you have been through" following the death of a child - but Betjeman tends to keep to safer subjects; fine wines, topographical plates, and cricket dinners. Both men were bibliophiles and the friendship between the two seems to have rested a great deal on books. Arlott was famously generous and hospitable, and many of Betjeman's letters acknowledge gifts of books on subjects ranging from fine wine to Japan but most commonly British topography (“…How kind of you to give me Campbell’s Journey from Edinburgh – what superb aquatint plates, what variety of Gilpinesque deposition of light & shade…”, 28 December 1952). Their shared affection for the British landscape also comes through in discussion of architecture and development, for example when Betjeman provides advice on fighting a development that would have laid waste to the beautiful north London suburb of Highgate. It is often the chance comments that are most revealing about the letter writer, as when he recounts how a trip in a taxi had ended with an inspection of the driver's paintings ("affectionate and colourful") or when Betjeman responds to an offer from Arlott of a lift into London: “There is nothing I dislike more that the journey by motor car from Wantage to London. One passes through such hideous barbaric architecture that I get depressed for the rest of the week. So you can drop me at Didcot and I will take the train” (6 January 1954). Other letters touch on publishing projects, such as Betjeman's contribution to a posthumous publication by their mutual friend Pennethorne Hughes. A CHARMING EVOCATION OF BETJEMAN'S DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER AND HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH ANOTHER QUINTESSENTIAL ENGLISHMAN.  Condition reportCondition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
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