PAST MEMBERS

Bill’s collection was enormous and provided hours of happy browsing for some of us! He also spoke regularly, at Club meetings, about his favourite authors of adventure stories, detective fiction and schoolboy tales.

“My father introduced me and my sister to the Greyfriars Saga when he bought the first Skilton book, “Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School” for us. It was probably just as much for himself as he had read and enjoyed The Magnet in his youth. Anyway I loved the books which followed. When I went away to boarding school aged eleven, I took “Billy Bunter’s Banknote” with me and as it just passed the school censor, I used to quote passages to my fellow girl pupils. Many years later I visited Foyles in London and discovered the wonderland of The Magnet as published by Howard Baker. Years later too I became aware of the book clubs which continue the extraordinary attraction of Greyfriars, with its vast cast of life-like characters who survive because the author Frank Richards understood so well human characteristics in varying circumstances. I joined the London Old Boys’ Book Club some five years ago and since then have met and enjoyed the company of good and clever friends.”

London OBBC in January 1970 prompted by my interest in the works of Charles Hamilton, particularly his stories in the Magnet in the name of Frank Richards. Contact with Club members quickly broadened my enthusiasm for children’s fiction in general  which now encompasses not only school stories but fairy and adventure tales, illustrated books, both old and new, and, of course, a wide range of children’s story-papers, magazines and comics.
Renewing my acquaintance through the OBBC with the Magnet and the Schoolgirl led to my giving talks and writing about them, and then to co-authoring, with Patricia Craig, the book You’re a Brick, Angela! which was published in 1976. Since then I’ve never stopped writing, giving talks and sometimes broadcasting about children’s books and ‘popular cultures’. Altogether I’ve had twenty books published, the most popular of which are You’re a Brick, Angela! and my biographies of Frank Richards and Richmal Crompton. I’ve produced many features and book reviews for national newspapers and magazines, have written introductions to various books, and have been a consultant editor for Twentieth Century Children’s Writers and Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers.I edited and produced the Story Paper Collectors’ Digest for twenty-one years and co-edited the magazine of the Just William Society for a decade. For several years I’ve been a regular judge for the Children’s Books History Society’s Harvey Darton Awards; I am President of the Northern OBBC and the Cambridge Club, and a Vice-President of the Just William Society and of the Friars’ Club. (And all of this sprang from my joining the London OBBC nearly thirty years ago!) I’ve been married to Alexander Cadogan for 58 years and we have one daughter, who is a primary school teacher. I have recently celebrated my eightieth birthday and, to mark the event, Girls Gone By have published my latest book, Mary Carries On.”

A highlight of his life was going to meetings of the Old Boys Book Club where other like-minded members would meet. In 1982 when just Ray and my Mother were living at 129 Shardeloes Road they moved to Leicester. had the ability to engage both the old and the very young in discussions on books and films he was always very interested in what they were doing and reading. He never forgot a Birthday and would often adapt cards for a child with an amusing comment or verse. He never moaned, never complained, could think quickly on his feet and come up with a funny comment. He was just a wonderful guy . He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, both old and young.” 

In his later years when the journeys to Club meetings became a bit too much, Ray drove down to me – in Newport Pagnell – and I took him on to the various venues around London. I can vouch for Ray’s cousin’s assertions about his phenomenal memory – he could recount tales of his early life as though it were yesterday. His interests were many and varied, he kept lists of everything, and he never lost his enthusiasm for the Club itself.He was also one of the most prolific contributors to the Story Paper Collectors’ Digest and carried out meticulous research – often adding to information previously gathered by fellow Club members.