About the Angela Thirkell Society
The Society
Founded in 1980 by Mrs Diana McFarlan of Dublin, at the instigation of Margot Strickland, author of Angela Thirkell, Portrait of a Lady Novelist, and with the active cooperation of Lance Thirkell, youngest of Mrs Thirkell’s three sons, the Society aims to honour the memory of Angela Thirkell as a writer and to make her works available to new generations. An annual Journal (free to members) is produced and contributions are encouraged. There is a thriving second-hand book scheme as well as a system by which members may borrow books which they might find too expensive or difficult to obtain, and regular regional and national meetings and outings take place. The Society also publishes articles and short stories by and about Angela Thirkell, letters written by her to her secretary, Margaret Bird, between 1950 and 1960, and a childhood memoir by her son Lance.
Activities
Past outings have been to the Burne-Jones exhibition in Birmingham (1998), the Bluebell Railway and West Hoathly (1999), a weekend in Brighton, Hove and Rottingdean (2000), Stanway House (2001), York and Castle Howard (2001), Standen House (2002), Kelmscott Manor and Buscot Park (2003), the Watts Gallery, Compton (near Guildford), Surrey (2004), and All Saints church, Wilden (2005). An annual 'pilgrimage' is made to Rottingdean, where Angela spent many childhood holidays, and where she is buried beside her daughter who died in infancy.
Talks and discussions are held at the AGM and at Regional meetings. At the 2004 AGM, Penny Aldred and June Cox gave a fascinating talk on 'Angela's War & Ours', which was then presented with great success at the North American branch AGM in Richmond, Virginia later that year.
The society's Vice-Chairman Margaret Beard is co-ordinating a collection of colour copies of the covers of the English editions of the books.
Our latest project is to produce notes for each novel and invite those who can to explain the more obscure references (see Relusions)
Membership
New members are always welcome. To join, please fill out: Membership Application (PDF) . For general question, please contact Penny Aldred, the Angela Thirkell Secretary.